Elaine Mawhinney Brady

Elaine Jean Brady was born in New Kensington, PA. on July 3rd 1946. She departed this world on August 11, 2017 at home after a long battle with cancer. The only child of T. Leonard and Elsie S. Mawhinney, she spent most of her childhood playing "school" with her beloved dolls and always wanted to pursue teaching as a career. The word "nice" appears in virtually every note from friends in her senior high yearbook, most of whom wrote that she helped them pass a class or two. After graduating with honors from Springdale High School outside of Pittsburg, PA., she attended Theil College in Greenville, PA. majoring in Sociology. Elaine received her BA degree, a multiple subject teaching credential and graduated salutatorian (2nd) in her class of 1968 [she received a 'B' in one class "because she didn't speak up enough!"]. This was followed two years later with a Master of Education degree in guidance from the University of Arizona where she met her best friend and husband to be, Jim Brady. The Brady's were married in 1970 whereupon Elaine started her teaching career, 4th grade, in Portland, OR. while Jim worked on his teaching credential thanks to Elaine's influence. They moved to Pittsburg, PA. to be close to Elaine's family, both working as teachers. Elaine taught 4th & 5th grades for 4 years making such an impression on some students that she continued to correspond regularly with them. After their first child, Todd, was born, Elaine worked 5 years as a part-time adult counselor for Penn State University until the family moved to Visalia in 1979. By this time Kevin and Craig had been added to the family, so Elaine briefly became a stay-at-home mom and church volunteer at the First Presbyterian Church. The call of teaching was too much, so when Craig started school she became a part-time substitute teacher for 3 years, then 8 years as an English Language Development teacher at Houston Elementary in Visalia and 16 years at Ivanhoe School teaching ELD, 1st and 2nd grades, ending her career as a half time 2nd grade teacher in 2012. After retirement, Elaine volunteered in her "friends'" classrooms for three years. She was a gifted teacher, a really "nice" unselfish person, a loving wife, an outstanding mother and a caring grandmother. Her greatest joy was to attend all of the activities of her three sons, their wives and her 6 grandchildren. She is, without question, in Heaven, no doubt organizing and educating others. We, her family and her dog, Sasha, miss her greatly, but look forward to seeing her again when our time comes. A celebration of Elaine's life will take place at Gateway Church, 1100 S. Sowell Rd. in Visalia CA. on Saturday September 30th at 11:00 AM. In lieu of flowers, the family requests remembrances be in the form of donations in Elaine's name to the Promise Project children's center building fund at Gateway Church.

Elaine Mawhinney Brady

July 3, 1946 - August 11, 2017