Notes for Viola Maud Hammond: Obituary in Bangor Daily News, Monday June 11, 2001:
Bradbury, Viola M., 108 Bangor and Brewer - Viola (Hammond) Bradbury, 108, wife of the late Frederick C. Bradbury, died June 10, 2001, at a Portland health-care center. Mrs. Bradbury made her home in Portland since 1992. She was born in Bangor, April 29, 1893, the daughter of John and Maud (Lacy) Hammond. Mrs. Bradbury was predeceased by two sons, Charles in 1938 and Clayton in 1985; and an aunt, Lavina P. Campbell. Surviving are three grandchildren, Carol Conley of South Portland, Charles E Bradbury of California, Jane Alley of Hampden; eight great-grandchildren, Ann Russ, David Zografos, Marianne Alley, Charles Bradbury IV, Anne Bradbury, James Bradbury, Mary Margaret Bradbury, Robert Bradbury; three great-great-grandchildren, Tyler Russ, Jacob Russ and Emily Zografos. Funeral services will be held 10:00 am Tuesday at Brookings-Smith, Clark-Piper Chapel, 55 South Main St., Brewer, with the Rev. Elaine Peresluha, minister of the Unitarian/Universalist Society, officiating. Interment will be in Mt. Hope Cemetery. Gifts in her memory may be sent to Cedars Nursing Care Facility, 630 Ocean Ave., Portland, ME 04106 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The following is Viola Maud Hammond Bradbury's eulogy, delivered June 12, 2001 at Brookings-Smith Funeral home in Brewer:
We are here to celebrate and honor the 108-year life of Viola Maud Bradbury, affectionately known to her family as "Grammie". She was someone you do not soon forget. Born before cell phones and airplanes, both essential to all of us gathering here today, Grammie's life was not an easy one.
Her father had left, and her mother died, by the time Grammie was three months old. Grammie was brought up by her maternal grandparents. Her aunts were like sisters to her. Despite her early family difficulties, she developed a delightful sense of humor and a grittiness that helped her through some tough times later in life.
In 1910, when she was 17, she married Fredrick Clayton Bradbury - the first of three very important men in her life. We learned years later, after doing some genealogy research, that she was pregnant when she got married. When quizzed about this, she responded "So what! - Isn't that what happens today?" -- She was always ahead of her time.
She had two sons: Charles and Clayton - the other two special men in her life. I'm sure she spoiled them like she spoiled her grandchildren. Her first son, Charles was born during the Bangor fire. During the fire, she was taken out of the burning city on a log skidder. She told us Charles' first bed was in a bureau drawer. She loved and supported the three men in her life through good times and bad. In 1938 she lost Charles in a tragic accident. She kept his memory alive her whole life and spoke of him often.
In 1948 her husband Fred, sustained a severe head injury which left him unable to speak -- except a few cuss words -- and unable to work. She cared for him, and took over as the breadwinner for the family and opened a tourist home in Steuben. She was on the cutting edge of the tourist industry, by building the first overnight cabins in Maine. If you visit Mt. Dessert island today, you can see the cabins at Sunnyside Cabins on Rt. 3. A few years later, she opened a tourist home on Hammond St. in Bangor.
In 1959 when she was 66 - 42 years ago - her husband Fred died. When she was 95, Clayton, the last of the men in her life, passed away. Having your spouse and all you children pass on before you must have been very difficult - Yet, her grittiness and sense of humor never waned.
Her will to live and strength were evident during her broken knee episode, a serious car accident when she was 70, cataract surgery at 102, and a broken hip five years ago at the age of 103.
She loved the growing number of great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren. Here are a few cherished memories of our beloved Grammie:
She used to sneak me brown sugar sandwiches when I was a child. I remember her hiding candy in her closet and having a pot under her bed for night time use even though we had indoor plumbing and the facilities were only a few feet down the hall. I also remember the machines at her Stuben Tourist home used for pressing the sheets for the Tourist's bedding - a touch of caring and class.
Carol remembers watching her crochet beautiful tablecloths, and lace for doilies, handkerchiefs etc.; learning how to embroider ( and it had to be neat on both sides or Carol had to take it out and start over); fried dough on Saturday mornings while making bread to eat with the beans baking in the oven, sitting on her lap eating candy (even as a teenager!); going on shopping trips to the Northshore Shopping Mall, in Peabody Mass. before the Maine Mall was built.
And in her years living in Cedars Nursing Care Facility in Portland Carol cared for her: eating out at Cole Farms, and shopping at the Maine Mall, Grammie always wanting a new dress.
During her stay at Cedar's her feisty personality won the hearts of all the staff, even the maintenance people brought her candy and ice cream on a daily basis. She was very particular about her appearance. Every day she would wear a nice dress, her pearls, a broach and her hair had to be just so. A nurse gave her a kitten stuffed animal, which she treated like a child until her final days, and will be with her for eternity.
She had a certain way of doing things, from stacking the stuffed animals on her bed, to pulling down the bed spread for the night, … and God help those who tried to do it differently. No one was exempt. The senior staff would tell the new orientees at Cedars to do it Viola's way and it will be accomplished quicker and they would be loved by her. They all loved her quick wit and sense of humor. Even at the age of 108, she didn't hesitate to speak her mind.
Janie remembers how Gram, at 74, drove with her while she had her driver's permit and took her for her driver's license in the little brown Comet with the troll hanging from the mirror. Grammie was known for her love of junk food. One time Janie and her friend, Galen, had to go replenish Grammie's snacks at Zayres. They were having a sale and she wanted 2 large bags M&M's, 2 large tins of English cookies, nuts (which the doctor told her not to eat - I guess he thought it would shorten her life!) and of course, CHEESE BALLS. Galen was so embarrassed with all these items that he would not go through the checkout with Janie!! … You can see her life was centered on candy and junk food. So much for the theory of healthy eating contributing to longevity. When you went out to eat with Gram you prayed that the waitress/restaurant was efficient or it could be very embarrassing ---she said exactly what she thought! Grammie lived with us since Janie was 5 years old was like a second mother to her.
Few people in the world can say they have seen as much change as Grammie. She lived in three different centuries! She was born only 28 years after the Civil War. When she was 5, the Battleship Maine was sunk in Havana Harbor during the Spanish American War. I always think of Grammie when I see Rose from the movie Titanic - Grammie was 19 years old when the Titanic sunk. She has seen 20 Presidents, 6 new states, a new planet, the introduction of the dial telephone, the automobile, airplanes, man landing on the moon. She saw the introduction of talking movies, VCRs, dishwashers, ovens, refrigerators, television, washers and dryers, microwaves, Nintendos, copying machines, faxes, and home computers. She was 72 when the Medicare law was passed.
Gram was devoted to her family and was always giving or doing a kind deed for someone in her family. She instilled a strong sense of family values into all of her grandchildren. Hopefully, we have passed this on to our children and who will carry it on for generations to come.
This is not a sad day. It is a salute to a special woman who is happy and at peace now. We are sure she has been united with all her loved ones that have passed before her, and that she would want us to be happy for her and enjoy this time together.
We'll always remember her free spirit, her candor, and her sense of humor; - She was a "pistol" and will be long remembered. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
More About Viola Maud Hammond: Burial: June 12, 2001, Mt Hope Cemetery, Lot 782, Grave 5 N. Occupation: Tourist Home Operator.
More About Viola Maud Hammond and Fredrick Clayton Bradbury: Marriage: December 12, 1910, Bangor, Penobscot, ME.1405, 1406, 1407
Children of Viola Maud Hammond and Fredrick Clayton Bradbury are:
Viola Maud Hammond (b. April 29, 1893, d. June 10, 2001)
Notes for Viola Maud Hammond: