Mary Eleanor (Collins) Bradley

Mary Eleanor Collins Bradley, 93, passed away peacefully at home on Wednesday, March 11, 2020. Mary was born on August 17, 1926 in Westernport, MD. to Emma and James Collins. Growing up in Westernport, she graduated from St. Peter’s High School in 1944. Married in 1946 to Joseph Vincent Bradley, the couple moved shortly after to Washington D.C. where their son, Joseph James Bradley, was born in 1953.

In 1951, Mary began a 31-year career with the National Park Service, rising to chief of the employee evaluation and staffing branch in 1975. Beloved as Mom, Grandma, Gigi, Ellie and Mary, she was an avid sports fan, faithfully cheering and grumbling through decades of Redskins games and golf tournaments. In addition to her love of sports and the Park Service, Mary also enjoyed many years playing golf and traveling with her husband, particularly their treasured annual trips to Bethany Beach with her son Joey, daughter in law Barbara, and grandchildren. When she smiled, you knew she meant it, lighting up a room with love and light from a twinkle in her eye. Mary was singular and accomplished through nearly a century of life. Known for her wicked sense of humor, she was sharp and determined to the end and will be forever missed and celebrated by those who loved her.

A resident of Paul Spring Retirement Community in Alexandria, VA from 2003 through the rest of her life, she is survived by her son, Joseph, grandchildren, Brendan (Jennifer), John, Margaret (Carlos), and Catherine, great grandchildren, Heath, Beckett, Harrison, and Louisa, and younger brother James (Jimmy), in addition to many nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband of 58 years, Joseph, who passed away in 2005.

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