Gladys Mae Brandt

Gladys Mae Brandt, 99, passed away on Wednesday, December 18, 2013 at her home in Chula Vista, CA. Gladys was born in Eckville, Alberta Canada on June 1, 1914. Gladys was married to Jasper C. Brandt on April 15, 1933 and they were happily married for 53 years. Gladys was predeceased by her husband Jasper, her daughter Barbara (Marcel) Weaver, her sister Mary Wayne and her brother Gordon Ballance. Gladys and Jasper moved from Burnaby, British Columbia Canada to Chula Vista with their five daughters in 1952 where Gladys lived in their same home for over 61 years.

Gladys was a loving and devoted mother and a woman never short on wisdom. She loved to give of her time and help other family members never asking for anything in return. Her daughters have fond memories of their mother’s vegetable gardens, her canning, baking bread and sewing their clothes when they were young. In addition to raising five daughters she had a very successful career at Rohr Aircraft for 27 years.

Gladys loved to travel! In her lifetime she traveled to England, Europe, Hawaii and Canada along with cruises to the Caribbean. Gladys loved short getaways to Palm Springs with her husband, family and friends. But with all of the successes and lifetime achievements she will always be remembered for her loving kindness!

Gladys is survived by her daughters Janice Brubaker, Roberta Shaw, Marsha Carole (James) Mann and Naomi (Glenn) Landerkin and her loving sister Hazel (Jerry) Sletmoe. She had fifteen grandchildren: Anne, Caryn, Damon, Debbie, Delores, Dwaine, Greg, Jamie, Kimberly, Matthew, Michael, Nancy Carole, Sandy, Susan and Walter, along with many great grandchildren.

A memorial to celebrate Gladys’ life will be held at Glen Abbey Memorial Park in the Chapel of the Roses, Friday, January 3, 2014 at 10:00am.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to “Sharp Hospice Care” (note: In Memory of Gladys Brandt).

Mail contributions to:

Grossmont Hospital Foundation

P.O. Box 158

La Mesa CA, 91944

OR via phone:

619-740-4200 to donate by credit card

My Mother Gladys Mae Ballance Brandt, was born June 1, 1914 in Eckville, Alberta, Canada. Her parents were William "Harry" Ballance, and Alma Caroline Sonnie.

Her Grandparents were William and Mary Louise DeRosier Ballance, and Johannes "John" Sonnie and Bothilda Olsen Sonnie. The Sonnies were from Sweden.

One of the family stories is Mother's Grandma, Mary Louise Ballance, spoke fluent French and taught her son Harry. Mother's Grandpa William Ballance was a stubborn Irishman who refused to learn French. As such, it was the root cause of many a family squabble when mother and son spoke French and William could not understand.

When Mother was a little girl, she couldn't pronounce her name, and when asked what her name was, she would answer "Gaggie Mae Bammie".

Mother was one of four children. Her siblings are Mary, Gordon and Hazel. Mary and Gordon predeceased Mother, her sister Hazel at age 90 lives in Spokane, Washington.

Their father Harry Ballance passed away before the age of 40, so their Mother Alma was left to raise the four children alone. Mother being the eldest, helped her Mother with many chores including taking care of her younger siblings.

Mother was Baptised in the Protestant Church, but when her Father Harry passed away, his Mother Mary Louise told my Mother's Mum Alma,"Harry came to me in a dream, and told me to Baptise the children in the Catholic Church". Grandma Mary Louise being a devout Catholic. So my Grandma Alma did just that!

Mother was afraid of horses. She told us why with this story. To the best of my recollection, Mother's Father Harry, did not like working on his Father Williams farm. He was a musician, who played violin for dances. He loved the social life, even though he had 4 children and a wife. Because Harry used money he got from selling some of his Father's livestock on a "party", his Father made him move his family from the Ballance family farm house, to a large tent on the Ballance farm. This large tent had a cook stove but to keep the cold out, they put hay bales around the outside of the tent. At night or early morning, the horses would go to the hay bales to eat. Mother said she could hear the horses eating, making all sorts of noise as they ate, and it frightened her so, that she never got over her fear of them.

Auntie Hazel said Mother had lots of boyfriends. Being very pretty, with long black hair kept waved in the style of the day "Marcel waves" from the beauty parlor. Even as a young teenager, Mother was always dressed up in stockings and heels. Lipstick and makeup made her look like a beauty queen. No wonder Daddy fell in love with her!

One of Mother's boyfriends was Jasper Charles (JC) Brandt, from a neighbouring farm in the Red Deer, Alberta area. The Brandt family were dairymen, as well as musicians who played for the weekend dances in the area. Mother caught the eye of my Daddy at one of these dances. Mother and Daddy dated until time for him to ask fo her hand in marriage. Daddy asked my Grandma Alma if he could marry her daughter. Grandma gave her blessing, only if he promised to wait three years before having any children. Mother was 19 and Daddy was 28.

They were married in Knox United Church, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, on April 15, 1933. Their first daughter Barbara was born three years later on January 26, 1936 in Lacombe, Alberta. Daughter number 2 Janice was born July 3, 1937 in Rimbey, Alberta, daughter number 3 Roberta was born June 19, 1940, in Rimbey, Alberta, daughter number 4, Marsha Carole, yours truly, was born in Vancouver, British Columbia, and trying one last time for a boy, daughter number 5, Naomi was born October 23, 1949 in Vancouver.

In 1952, Mother, Daddy and their five daughters moved from Vancouver, to Chula Vista, California. We stayed in a little motor court for three weeks, until Mother and Daddy found their perfect home at 717 Del Mar Ave. Daddy found work right away, and Mother stayed home caring for their five daughters. She loved to iron and was good at taking care of children, so when we were a bit older, Mother would babysit and because the families she took care of loved the way she ironed for them, she took home ironing to earn extra spending money as well. Mother was an expert at ironing! And she was loved and appreciated by the families she babysat for!

One family she sat for, the father was an executive at Rohr Aircraft as it was called then. He asked Mother if she would like to earn more money than what she did babysitting, by applying for work at Rohr. He told her who to see, she applied, answered the question to "can you type" with a yes, even though she didn't have that skill, and was hired! To live up to yes I can type, she enrolled in a typing course at night school, at Chula Vista High. She worked at Rohr for 27 years, until she was 67 years old.

She was a loving wife and Mother. She always made sure Daddy had a hot breakfast and a packed lunch with 2 thermos' of coffee. She would perk the coffee, put cream and sugar in the 2 thermos', then fill with the hot coffee. Daddy was always a trim and fit man, but boy could he eat! Mother was an excellent cook and baker. Some of the family favourites were "Swiss Steak", which she would make for Sunday dinner. Mother also made the best bread, kneading by hand. Her Matrimonial bars, like a date bar, were also a favourite. Cakes were also a specialty, with Tomato Soup Cake a standard. Some of Mums cakes were topped with seven minute frosting!

Mother and Daddy always made sure we were well cared for. They always made sure their girls, especially Naomi and I got to Sunday School. When we first moved to 717, our next door neighbours the Hansen family, were members of the First Southern Baptist Church in Chula Vista. So that is where we went to Church.

While being busy raising her family and working, Mum and Daddy always made sure to save Friday night as their date night. Daddy loved to surprise Mum with flowers and chocolates, Sees chocolates among her favourites!

Mother and Daddy loved to travel, and every year they would enjoy a month long trip back to Canada, especially to visit Grandma Alma, who lived to the age of 102, Auntie Mary and her family, and Uncle Gordon and his family. Auntie Hazel would join them at these yearly reunions as well.

Mother and Daddy enjoyed many cruises to the Caribbean. They also loved Hawaii, where daughter Barbara and her husband Marcell were stationed for a time. Almost every year Mother and Daddy would fly to Hawaii, always staying at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel. The Hotel still sends Mum a Christmas card!

Palm Springs and Lawrence Welk Village are two other local spots Mother and Daddy vacationed at. They would take in a live show at Welks, and often having dinner while Lawrence Welk himself was there. On one of these occasions, daughter Janice arainged for Lawrence Welk to come to Mother and Dads table for an introductions. Daddy being born in South Dakota, and also a musician who played several instruments including alto and tenor sax, had a lot in common with Mr. Welk, who was from North Dakota. Janice said they had a really good conversation.

On April 15, 1983, Mother and Daddy celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary, here in the Little Chapel of Roses, with Pastor Mitschke performing the wedding ceremony!. Daddy had read about actor Robert Young planning his 50th wedding anniversary, so he decided that would be perfect for the love of his life, his "Gladdy", as he would affectionately call her. It was a celebration for sure, with dinner and dancing after. To top the anniversary off, they flew first class to Spain for two weeks.

Mother and Daddy continued to enjoy their frequent visits to Palm Springs, Welk Village, and Canada. Until Daddy's health declined and the last trip to Canada was the summer of 1985. Daddy told us he had the best sleep in Canada that year; breathing better than he had in quite some time. That Christmas of 1985, Daddy's emphysema was beginning to take a heavy toll on his breathing and continued to do so until March 19, 1986 when now at U.C.S.D Medical Center, he passed away peacefully, with the love of his life, his Gladdy, my sisters, Janice, Roberta, Naomi, and I, by his side.

Mother was always a good neighbour. Her neighbour Cora Hirsch, who was also a widow, and Mum, became close friends. Close as sisters. They went to Cora's Lutheran Church in Chula Vista every Sunday, took many trips together including England, France, Germany, Hawaii, and a cruise to the Panama Canal. One such trip to Hawaii, included some of Mum's other friends from the neighbourhood: Martha Bulldis, Emilie Carlson, and Opal Cooper. Parties were often held at Emilie Carlson's home, where neighbours Gloria Gilbert and Clydelle Cox would join them. The ladies would all bring a snack and Emilie would always have a "Box Of Wine" to open. It was a pleasure for me to join these parties on my way home from work, even my daughters Susan and Jamie enjoyed a party or two.

When Cora moved back to Minnesota, Mum and Emilie started walking every morning except Sundays. They also became traveling buddies, and loved to go to the casinos in Las Vegas and Laughlin. Sometimes I would join them. Trips to Palm Springs were frequent as well. Lawrence Welk Theatre was also a special treat for Mother and her friends and family. Mother always loved Hawaii, and with my sister Roberta living there for many years before relocating to Arizona, Mum took advantage of visiting her.

Mother still traveled to Canada almost every year to visit her Mother, with Janice, Naomi and I. Boy those trips were special indeed. We still laugh about the fun times we had.

Family gatherings were very special to the Brandt family. We loved our picnics at Otay Lakes. Mother would fry chicken, and make the best potato salad in the world. Her Matrimonial bars of course were on the dessert menu, and always a large watermelon. Mother had a big turkey roaster she kept on the patio, along with table and chairs, and always a lawn swing and a refrigerator. Mum continued in to her 99th year, sitting on her lawn swing watching the neighbours tall trees blow in the wind!

Many backyard cookouts and picnics were held on our patio, and holidays were especially festive. Mum would make the best turkey and stuffing, and her desserts and rolls, including hot cross buns at Easter, were always homemade. Mother was indeed a true homemaker, even though she worked outside the home as well.

When we sisters married and started our families, the family gatherings would often be held at one or more of our homes. Many gatherings were held at our house each year, but always with the help of Mother, Daddy, and all the family including the grandkids who loved to cook, and stir the gravy, especially Naomi's sons Mike and Matt at Christmastime.

Mother and Daddy together raised five daughters in a home filled with MUSIC - especially Lawrence Welk; LOVE - which was unconditional; FAITH - they made sure we got to Sunday School and Church; a GOOD MORAL CHARACTER - by example; and a STRONG WORK ETHIC - Mother never was late for work at Rohr. If her car pool driver called to say he or she was running late, Mum would use one of her vacation or sick days!

Mother was loving, kind and caring. Mother was peaceful.......Daddy said he knew if his Gladdy wasn't happy about something, because she would get real quiet. Mother never complained. Ever! Mother took good care of her husband. Mother nurtured her children and grandchildren. Mother instilled beauty and love in her home. Mother at age 99 1/2 could sing Jesus Loves Me in tune. Mother was full of grace. Mother was elegant. Mother was fun loving and knew how to have a goo time. Mother loved life and lived it to the fullest. Mother was an adored wife and Mother. Her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren love her and will forever miss her.