Obituaries

Mary?s parents, Antone Soares and the former Catherine Silva had immigrated from the Azores Islands of Terceira and Graciosa, respectively, of Portugal, and settled on a ranch in the small San Joaquin Valley town of Stratford. There, though times were tough during the Depression, they managed to raise their family of 7 children, 6 girls and a boy. Mary, the middle child, was born on April 6th, 1926. Mary graduated from Lemoore High School, and then worked in a bank for 7 years before getting married to Dave Brazil in 1953, having first met at a Portuguese Festa in Gustine. During their nearly 60 years of marriage she was a devoted wife and loving mother and grandmother to her 4 children and 9 grandchildren. They followed Dave?s job in the produce business for a couple of years before settling down in Fremont in 1957. There they raised their family for the next 26 years before making a move to country living in Auburn in 1983. There they enjoyed the more relaxed lifestyle of the California foothills for the next 26 years before moving back to the Bay Area in 2009 to be closer to their children and grandchildren. Through all of these times Mary enjoyed cooking, and spending time with family and friends, and going to church and community events. She volunteered for several groups and organizations throughout her life, including the YLI Catholic Women?s group, the Altar Society, making fruitcakes for the Dominican Sisters Boutique, at the Auburn Hospital information desk and others. Mary was a very giving person, very enjoyable to spend time with, and always there for us through every stage of our lives. She struggled with asthma throughout most of her adult life, including being hospitalized several times, but she was determined to be the one who would raise her children, not anybody else, and we are thankful for that as nobody could have done as good a job as she did. We were blessed once again when she survived a major heart attack 15 years ago, so her grandchildren had a chance to get to know her and have her wonderful example of how to live a life of grace and love. She will be greatly missed by all who knew her.

Preceded in death by her parents: Antone and Catherine Soares of Lemoore; her sisters: Catherine Paulo, Margaret Newton, and Irma Silva; and her brother: Tony Soares.

Survived by her sisters: Rosie Cardoza of Hanford, and Alice Stewart of Fresno; her husband: Dave Brazil of Pleasanton; her children: Ron Brazil and his wife Liz of Newark, Larry Brazil and his wife Nancy of Pleasanton, Steve Brazil and his wife Kaysee of Franklin, TN, and Patricia Brazil of Moraga; and her grandchildren: Chelsea of San Diego, Maddie and Andrew of Pleasanton, Janet, Megan, Michael, and Johnny of Newark, and Joey and Zachary of Franklin, TN.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, August 22, from 4-8pm with a Vigil at 7pm at Fremont Memorial Chapel, 3723 Peralta Blvd., Fremont, CA 94536. Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Friday, August 23, 10am at St. Joseph's Catholic Church, 43148 Mission Blvd., Fremont, CA 94539. Burial at San Joaquin Valley National Cemetery in Gustine.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in memory of Mary to the American Lung Association.