Joan Eileen Bradner

Joan Eileen Dougherty Bradner passed away on November 14, 2015. Joan was born in Galion, Ohio on May 10, 1929. She showed early musical talent and began playing the organ in her parish church at age eleven. Joan’s desire to study music prompted her to audition at Mary Manse College in Toledo, where she was awarded a scholarship. While a student, she collaborated with a classmate to compose the Mary Manse Alma Mater. She was awarded a Bachelor of Music degree with honors in 1953. She had a long career as a pianist, choir director and organist at parishes throughout Toledo and hosted musical and cultural gatherings in her home well into her senior years. Joan married Robert Bradner in 1954 and composed their wedding marches, which have been published and performed at the weddings of their children, grandchildren, and classmates. Joan was active in her community, serving as President of the Mary Manse Alumni Association and editor of the Alumni News. She was an officer in the Toledo Chapter of the American Guild of Organists and served on the Board of the Toledo Botanical Garden. In addition to her passion for music, Joan had a successful second career as a licensed realtor. She enjoyed politics and was a frequent contributor to The Toledo Blade Readers Forum, Catholic Chronicle and other periodicals. She was proud of her Irish heritage and seemingly always organizing some type of celebration for family, friends and classmates. Joan was preceded in death by her parents, Daniel and Esther Dougherty, and three sisters, Jean Hook, Jane McCartney and June Jones. She is survived by her loving husband of 61 years, Robert; five children, Kathleen Penske, Houston, TX; Karen Rolandelli, Greensboro, NC; Eileen Bradner, Arlington, VA; Elizabeth Kunkel (Jeff), Chicago, IL; and Gerard Bradner, Mansfield, Ohio; nine grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren. A Mass celebrating her life will be held at Little Flower Catholic Parish on Wednesday, November 18 at 11 am. Visitation will be held immediately prior at Little Flower at 10 am. Coyle Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements. Memorial contributions may be made to the following: Ursuline Sisters, Toledo, OH; Corpus Christi University Parish, Toledo, OH; or Little Flower Life Teen, the high school ministry at Little Flower Catholic Parish. Please leave a condolence message for the family at CoyleFuneralHome.com. Reminiscences of a Rich and Full Life by Joan Eileen Dougherty Bradner Growing up in the southern part of the Toledo Diocese (Galion-Mansfield Deanery) made it difficult to familiarize oneself with Toledo and its many attributes. The mileage was over 100 miles one-way on a two-lane country road via Fremont, before the last 40 miles into Toledo. Things changed in the summer of 1949 when The Catholic Chronicle published a special edition highlighting Mary Manse College, its fine faculty, courses of study, and degrees available. The article inspired me to contact Sr. Mary Lawrence, asking for an interview. Shortly after, my mother and I made the awesome trip to Toledo where we met with some Ursuline faculty and had an audition with the famed pianist Emma Andres Kountz. When the afternoon was coming to an end, I was delighted to learn I would be given a tuition scholarship which allowed me to graduate from Mary Manse in 1953 with a Bachelor of Music degree. My first year of music teaching was at Maumee Valley Country Day School. I attended many alumnae activities at Mary Manse and it was there I met Robert Bradner, a Notre Dame graduate, World War II veteran and local CPA. Our friendship led to our marriage on August 21, 1954. We were blessed with five gifted children who grew up, graduated from college, and went on to fulfilling professional careers in sales, pharmacy, law, and teaching. In due time, there were nine grandchildren and three great grandchildren. During this time I kept busy as an organist in several Toledo churches and the Ursuline Convent. One day, Sister Georgiana invited me to join the Ursuline Associates and that allowed me to assist at special convent Masses and programs. The duties enriched my life and hopefully helped the Sisters in their work. Now, age and health issues have slowed me down and prevented me from an active participation in Associate activities, but my interest in their work is still very much alive! Postscript: Joan spent the last seven months of her life as a resident of the Ursuline Center, living as an Associate among the nuns and priests she worked with throughout her life. Just days before her passing, she entertained residents and guests at her husband Robert’s 90th birthday party by playing the Steinway grand piano in the Ursuline Center library, the same piano that had belonged to her beloved piano teacher at Mary Manse College, Emma Andres Kountz. Her musical selections included the Mary Manse alma mater which she had composed as a student many decades ago. Circle of life!

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Joan Eileen Bradner

May 10, 1929 - November 14, 2015