Violet was my neighbor in South Philadelphia when I lived there from March 2002 to April 11, 2003 when I became disabled and had to move. She was never married and lived in South Philadelphia all her life, with at least the last 40 years spent on Snyder Avenue at Broad Street. Previously, she lived on Juniper Street. Violet was a feisty, old lady and I grew to love her. She loved to see plays, classical music at the Kimmel Center and loved to eat out and walk all over the city. We used to go sit in Lord & Taylors in Center City and people watch. Violet was good to me and I cared for her when she had fallen and broken her hip in the fall of 2002. She was a tough, independant, eccentric, crusty old broad as she would say, and I loved her. She will be missed terribly by me. I kept in touch after I moved with post cards, letters and such. I was so surprised to get a Christmas card from Vi this past Christmas of 2004. It made me very happy and I will treasure it.
Unfortunately, Violet passed away sometime between May 28th and June 9th when she was found alone in her apt. I was informed by a social worker from adult protective services. I was all she had left.
Violet was the only child of William John Bradell & Violet Powell Bradell. Her dad passed away November 6, 1943 at the age of 53. Violet's beloved mother, whom she resided with all her life passed away on August 16, 1969 at the age of 74. Violet remained in the apartment they shared until her passing.She had been there some 40 odd years at least. Vi was a retail clerk just about all her life having worked for many years for McCrory's,H.L. Green's, and finally retiring from F.W. Woolworth's in Center City Philadelphia in 1990. The store is no longer there.Her passion was Broadway shows and Classical music with the orchestra. While going through her things I came across hundreds if not thousands of playbills and ticket stubs from all kinds of shows/plays, etc. They dated back at least 40 years. Oh boy, and did Violet love to read. There had to have been hundreds of books all over her apartment.
Violet was an amzing woman. I grew to know and love her in a very short period of time.We sorta depended on each other. Now that my friend is gone, I will miss her terribly.I hope she is smiling down from heaven and happy and proud of how I honored her final wishes. Violet you are with your mother now in spirit, and your earthly remains will join her soon as well. I love you Vi....Rest in Peace...
*********
The following poem was on a prayer card from Violet's father's funeral in 1943. It says alot about how I feel about Vi...
Your gentle face and patient smile
With sadness I recall
You had a kindly word for each
and died beloved by all
The voice is mute and stilled the heart
That loved us well and true
Ah, bitter was the trial to part
From one so good as you
You are not forgotten loved one
Nor will you ever be
As long as life and memory last
We will remember thee
We miss you now, our hearts are sore
As time goes by we miss you more
Your loving smile, your gentle face
No one can fill your vacant place
***unknown***
Today,May 26,2006, Violet's ashes were finally laid to rest with those of her dear mother's.I also have a portion of Vi here in my home with me in a beautiful urn as well. God Bless and keep you my sweet friend.I love and miss you very much.
**When I Must Leave You**
When I must leave you for a little while
Please do not grieve and shed wild tears
And hug your sorrow to you through the years
But start out bravely with a gallant smile;
And for my sake and in my name live on and do all things
the same, Feed not your lonliness on empty days,
But fill each waking hour in useful ways,
Reach out your hand in comfort and in cheer
And I in turn will comfort you
and hold you near; And never, never be afraid to die,
For I am waiting for you in the sky!
**Author Unkown **
Unfortunately, Violet passed away sometime between May 28th and June 9th when she was found alone in her apt. I was informed by a social worker from adult protective services. I was all she had left.
Violet was the only child of William John Bradell & Violet Powell Bradell. Her dad passed away November 6, 1943 at the age of 53. Violet's beloved mother, whom she resided with all her life passed away on August 16, 1969 at the age of 74. Violet remained in the apartment they shared until her passing.She had been there some 40 odd years at least. Vi was a retail clerk just about all her life having worked for many years for McCrory's,H.L. Green's, and finally retiring from F.W. Woolworth's in Center City Philadelphia in 1990. The store is no longer there.Her passion was Broadway shows and Classical music with the orchestra. While going through her things I came across hundreds if not thousands of playbills and ticket stubs from all kinds of shows/plays, etc. They dated back at least 40 years. Oh boy, and did Violet love to read. There had to have been hundreds of books all over her apartment.
Violet was an amzing woman. I grew to know and love her in a very short period of time.We sorta depended on each other. Now that my friend is gone, I will miss her terribly.I hope she is smiling down from heaven and happy and proud of how I honored her final wishes. Violet you are with your mother now in spirit, and your earthly remains will join her soon as well. I love you Vi....Rest in Peace...
*********
The following poem was on a prayer card from Violet's father's funeral in 1943. It says alot about how I feel about Vi...
Your gentle face and patient smile
With sadness I recall
You had a kindly word for each
and died beloved by all
The voice is mute and stilled the heart
That loved us well and true
Ah, bitter was the trial to part
From one so good as you
You are not forgotten loved one
Nor will you ever be
As long as life and memory last
We will remember thee
We miss you now, our hearts are sore
As time goes by we miss you more
Your loving smile, your gentle face
No one can fill your vacant place
***unknown***
Today,May 26,2006, Violet's ashes were finally laid to rest with those of her dear mother's.I also have a portion of Vi here in my home with me in a beautiful urn as well. God Bless and keep you my sweet friend.I love and miss you very much.
**When I Must Leave You**
When I must leave you for a little while
Please do not grieve and shed wild tears
And hug your sorrow to you through the years
But start out bravely with a gallant smile;
And for my sake and in my name live on and do all things
the same, Feed not your lonliness on empty days,
But fill each waking hour in useful ways,
Reach out your hand in comfort and in cheer
And I in turn will comfort you
and hold you near; And never, never be afraid to die,
For I am waiting for you in the sky!
**Author Unkown **
Violet was my neighbor in South Philadelphia when I lived there from March 2002 to April 11, 2003 when I became disabled and had to move. She was never married and lived in South Philadelphia all her life, with at least the last 40 years spent on Snyder Avenue at Broad Street. Previously, she lived on Juniper Street. Violet was a feisty, old lady and I grew to love her. She loved to see plays, classical music at the Kimmel Center and loved to eat out and walk all over the city. We used to go sit in Lord & Taylors in Center City and people watch. Violet was good to me and I cared for her when she had fallen and broken her hip in the fall of 2002. She was a tough, independant, eccentric, crusty old broad as she would say, and I loved her. She will be missed terribly by me. I kept in touch after I moved with post cards, letters and such. I was so surprised to get a Christmas card from Vi this past Christmas of 2004. It made me very happy and I will treasure it.
Unfortunately, Violet passed away sometime between May 28th and June 9th when she was found alone in her apt. I was informed by a social worker from adult protective services. I was all she had left.
Violet was the only child of William John Bradell & Violet Powell Bradell. Her dad passed away November 6, 1943 at the age of 53. Violet's beloved mother, whom she resided with all her life passed away on August 16, 1969 at the age of 74. Violet remained in the apartment they shared until her passing.She had been there some 40 odd years at least. Vi was a retail clerk just about all her life having worked for many years for McCrory's,H.L. Green's, and finally retiring from F.W. Woolworth's in Center City Philadelphia in 1990. The store is no longer there.Her passion was Broadway shows and Classical music with the orchestra. While going through her things I came across hundreds if not thousands of playbills and ticket stubs from all kinds of shows/plays, etc. They dated back at least 40 years. Oh boy, and did Violet love to read. There had to have been hundreds of books all over her apartment.
Violet was an amzing woman. I grew to know and love her in a very short period of time.We sorta depended on each other. Now that my friend is gone, I will miss her terribly.I hope she is smiling down from heaven and happy and proud of how I honored her final wishes. Violet you are with your mother now in spirit, and your earthly remains will join her soon as well. I love you Vi....Rest in Peace...
*********
The following poem was on a prayer card from Violet's father's funeral in 1943. It says alot about how I feel about Vi...
Your gentle face and patient smile
With sadness I recall
You had a kindly word for each
and died beloved by all
The voice is mute and stilled the heart
That loved us well and true
Ah, bitter was the trial to part
From one so good as you
You are not forgotten loved one
Nor will you ever be
As long as life and memory last
We will remember thee
We miss you now, our hearts are sore
As time goes by we miss you more
Your loving smile, your gentle face
No one can fill your vacant place
***unknown***
Today,May 26,2006, Violet's ashes were finally laid to rest with those of her dear mother's.I also have a portion of Vi here in my home with me in a beautiful urn as well. God Bless and keep you my sweet friend.I love and miss you very much.
**When I Must Leave You**
When I must leave you for a little while
Please do not grieve and shed wild tears
And hug your sorrow to you through the years
But start out bravely with a gallant smile;
And for my sake and in my name live on and do all things
the same, Feed not your lonliness on empty days,
But fill each waking hour in useful ways,
Reach out your hand in comfort and in cheer
And I in turn will comfort you
and hold you near; And never, never be afraid to die,
For I am waiting for you in the sky!
**Author Unkown **
Unfortunately, Violet passed away sometime between May 28th and June 9th when she was found alone in her apt. I was informed by a social worker from adult protective services. I was all she had left.
Violet was the only child of William John Bradell & Violet Powell Bradell. Her dad passed away November 6, 1943 at the age of 53. Violet's beloved mother, whom she resided with all her life passed away on August 16, 1969 at the age of 74. Violet remained in the apartment they shared until her passing.She had been there some 40 odd years at least. Vi was a retail clerk just about all her life having worked for many years for McCrory's,H.L. Green's, and finally retiring from F.W. Woolworth's in Center City Philadelphia in 1990. The store is no longer there.Her passion was Broadway shows and Classical music with the orchestra. While going through her things I came across hundreds if not thousands of playbills and ticket stubs from all kinds of shows/plays, etc. They dated back at least 40 years. Oh boy, and did Violet love to read. There had to have been hundreds of books all over her apartment.
Violet was an amzing woman. I grew to know and love her in a very short period of time.We sorta depended on each other. Now that my friend is gone, I will miss her terribly.I hope she is smiling down from heaven and happy and proud of how I honored her final wishes. Violet you are with your mother now in spirit, and your earthly remains will join her soon as well. I love you Vi....Rest in Peace...
*********
The following poem was on a prayer card from Violet's father's funeral in 1943. It says alot about how I feel about Vi...
Your gentle face and patient smile
With sadness I recall
You had a kindly word for each
and died beloved by all
The voice is mute and stilled the heart
That loved us well and true
Ah, bitter was the trial to part
From one so good as you
You are not forgotten loved one
Nor will you ever be
As long as life and memory last
We will remember thee
We miss you now, our hearts are sore
As time goes by we miss you more
Your loving smile, your gentle face
No one can fill your vacant place
***unknown***
Today,May 26,2006, Violet's ashes were finally laid to rest with those of her dear mother's.I also have a portion of Vi here in my home with me in a beautiful urn as well. God Bless and keep you my sweet friend.I love and miss you very much.
**When I Must Leave You**
When I must leave you for a little while
Please do not grieve and shed wild tears
And hug your sorrow to you through the years
But start out bravely with a gallant smile;
And for my sake and in my name live on and do all things
the same, Feed not your lonliness on empty days,
But fill each waking hour in useful ways,
Reach out your hand in comfort and in cheer
And I in turn will comfort you
and hold you near; And never, never be afraid to die,
For I am waiting for you in the sky!
**Author Unkown **
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