Obituary: Rosalia "Sally" (Friedl) Brabender

ASHTON/ MIDDLETON - Rosalia M. "Sally" Brabender, age 91, died on Sunday, Nov. 7, 2004, at Oregon Manor Nursing Home, following a lengthy illness. She was born in Madison on Nov. 30, 1912, to Anton and Anna (Miller) Friedl. She attended Holy Redeemer Catholic Elementary School and Madison Central High School. In 1933, she met the love of her life at a Fourth of July picnic in Waunakee. Eighteen months later, on Dec. 27, 1934, she married him, Hubert Brabender, at Holy Redeemer Catholic Church. They lived at 212 N. Frances St., Madison, until 1942. That's when she followed her man, who was following his heart to the country, the Brabender family homestead in Ashton, and that's where she enjoyed the rest of her life. She didn't exactly embrace farm life. According to Dad, "She tried to milk a cow once. Easiest milkier in the barn. She never finished it." She also tried driving a tractor, once. She admitted that she was a city girl through and through. But she endured and grew to love her adopted Ashton home, northwest of Madison. She even found a farm chore she liked, washing milk machines to be near Dad while he worked in the barn. Any spare time she filled with embroidery, sewing, making bread and pecan rolls, playing cards, visiting with family and friends, clipping coupons, and collecting teddy bears. Sally was looking forward to her 70th wedding anniversary and her 92nd birthday in the next few weeks. She didn't quite make it, but she left this world with her eyes wide open because she didn't want to miss a thing on the way out. She is survived by her best friend and husband, Hubert; six children, Hubert Jr. of Guthrie, Okla., Joyce (Joe) Mulhern, Earyl (Angie) Brabender and Wayne (friend Kirsten) Brabender, all of Madison, Jerry (Susie) Brabender of Oregon, and Deb (Jeff) Tracy of Ashton; 18 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; brothers, Clement A., Raymond J. and Albert P. Friedl; sister, Marie A. Friedl; sisters-in-law, Constance W., Gertrude M. and Helen M. Friedl; and daughter-in-law, Betty Ann Curlee Brabender. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at ST. PETER'S CATHOLIC CHURCH, 7125 County Trunk K, Ashton, at 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 10, 2004, with Father Bud Hollfelder presiding. Burial will be in St. Peter's Cemetery. Family and friends may call on Wednesday from 12:30 p.m. until the time of the service at the church. The family would like to thank the Oregon Manor staff and Dr. Randall Haas for their gentle care of Mom during her last three months. And special thanks to cousin, Barb Ziegler, for her selfless help with the funeral arrangements. Mom, you were the model of unconditional love. Everyone knew that. Don't think that we didnt notice the Northern Lights dancing across the sky after you left us. And it's no coincidence that Dad now sleeps on your side of the bed. He misses you. He misses your love. We all do. Say Hi to Toto, Marie, and the Friedl and Brabender clans. Till we see you again, we'll keep your spot open at the kitchen table. Gunderson West Funeral Home 7435 University Ave. Middleton (608) 831-6761

Originally published in the Wisconsin State Journal on November 9, 2004