Virginia Brachocki

March 29, 1918 - July 04, 2020

Obituary For Virginia Brachocki

Virginia Brachocki passed away peacefully on July 4, 2020 at the age of 102 in Scottsdale, AZ. She was born on March 29, 1918 in Brooklyn, NY, the eldest child of Joseph A Smolenski and Felicia (Piasecki). She was preceded in death by her husband, Edward, and daughter, Barbara (O’Leary), as well as her brothers, Stephen and Joseph Smolenski and their wives.

She is survived by her son, Edward and his wife, Susan (Schnoor); grandchildren, Jennifer Brown (Anthony) and Sean O’Lear;y and great grandchild, Max Brown, plus numerous nieces and nephews who she loved very much.

Jeannie, as she was known to most, was a wonderful, caring and compassionate person. Her intellectual curiosity knew few bounds and she always wanted to know about you. As a teen she was very involved with the YWCA in Brooklyn, where she met Eleanor Roosevelt, a highlight of her young life. After the war she worked for a number of years for the interior design firm McMillen and Co. in Manhattan as an assistant to company founder Mrs. Brown. She left to start her family, and spent most of her adult life on Long Island where she raised her family. She was dedicated to volunteer work including transcribing books into Braille for many years and working for Catholic Charities. She and her husband Ed were longtime members of Hempstead Golf Club where she was also an avid bridge player. They also traveled extensively through the U.S and Europe on business and pleasure which she treasured.

She moved to Arizona in 2014 where she lived with her son and his wife until recently. She was a deeply religious, strongly independent woman and the best Mom anyone could ask for.

There will be a Mass of Christian Burial on Monday July 13, 2020 at 9:30a.m. at Holy Spirit with interment at Holy Rood Cemetery, Westbury to follow.

Arrangements are being made with the New Hyde Park Funeral Home www.nhpfh.com.

In lieu of flowers please consider a donation in her name to the American Foundation for the Blind (www.afb.org).

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Condolences

September 01, 2020

Joseph Richard Smolenski

That was the one very fascinating quality of Aunt Jean... she wanted to know about you. You could ask her about herself, but she would come right back to being interested in your life and what you had going on. Very engaging. An enjoyable being.
September 01, 2020

Dina Smolenski

We will miss you Aunt Jean. You were our link to the old world that we wanted to know so much more about. Most of all though, we will miss you for your inquisitive spirit, your laugh, and making your loved ones feel special by always being interested in their lives. You were so unique in that way. Your focus on the positive and love for the arts I'm sure was a factor in keeping you alive and well for so long. Give the Smolenski clan up there a big hug for us.
September 01, 2020

Lisa Ferrante

I remember Aunt Jeanne being being very inquisitive as well. She seemed to really care and want to know all about your life in a genuine way. She lived a very full long life and she will be missed! Until we all meet again, rest easy Aunt Jeanne!