Christina M. Brady

BRADY, MICHELS, HOLLIDAY, BOTTELMAN, BOWMASTER, SCHENCK, HEIMAN, AZODI, MILLER, KERNS, MILBACK

Posted By: dbeier (email)
Date: 12/9/2008 at 21:35:08

HAZLETON - Christina M. Brady, lifelong resident of Buchanan and Fayette counties, died at the Buchanan County Health Center in Independence on Saturday, Dec. 6, 2008, following a brief illness.

Christina, born Nov. 1, 1916, was the oldest child of Peter and Elizabeth Michels. The family lived and farmed near Stanley. Upon graduating from the Stanley high school, Christina attended three years of college at Briar Cliff College in Sioux City, where she received a lifetime teaching certificate. After her college training, she returned home and taught for four years at the Hazleton township country school. She married Clement J. Brady on Nov. 10, 1942. Together, they farmed and raised 12 children near Aurora. Christina went back to college at Upper Iowa in Fayette and after earning her BA degree in 1971, she returned to her teaching career at Sacred Heart Catholic School in Oelwein, where she taught fourth grade for 18 years, retiring in 1980.

Christina lived on the family farm after the death of her husband, until moving to her present home in Hazleton. During her retirement years, she spent several winters with family in Florida. She also kept busy by attending and participating in quilt shows, making quilts for each of her 35 grandchildren as they graduated from high school, making and donating craft items for church fundraisers, and enjoying visits from her many relatives.

She is survived by 12 children, Chuck (Georgia), Pat (Wayne Holliday), Vince (Cindy), Ev, Marilyn (Alan Bottelman), Teresa, Cec (Ron Bowmaster), Kathleen, Denise (Robert Schenck), Emilie (Jim Heiman), Rose (John Azodi) and Mick (Cindi); 35 grandchildren; 29 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; one brother, John Michels of Oelwein; and two sisters, Kathryn Miller of Independence and Ruth Kerns of Fairbank.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Peter and Elizabeth Michels; husband, Clement J. Brady; brother, Robert Michels; sister, Mary Milback; grandchildren, Mitchell and Marissa; and great-grandchild, Logan.

Funeral services will be held today at Geilenfeld Funeral Home in Oelwein. Viewing will be at 2 p.m., rosary at 3 p.m. and Scripture service at 7 p.m. The funeral Mass will be at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Oelwein on Wednesday at 11 a.m., with interment at Woodlawn Cemetery in Oelwein.

A memorial fund has been established in Christina M. Brady's name to benefit Sacred Heart Grade School, where she dedicated 18 years of teaching. Contributions can be made in her name and directed to Geilenfeld Funeral Home, 309 First Ave. NE, Oelwein, IA 50662.