Elizabeth W Brady

Elizabeth “Sally” Welch Brady, 97, of Columbia, Maryland, passed away peacefully on December 9th, 2024. Born on June 11, 1927, in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, to Marshall Welch and Kathryn Siegel Welch, Sally lived a vibrant and full life defined by curiosity, resilience, and a deep love for her family.

Sally spent her early years attending Walnut Hill School in Natick, Massachusetts, where she developed a lifelong love of horseback riding, boating, woodworking, and hiking. Sally embraced an adventurous spirit, keeping pace with her brothers, Henry and Marshall Jr., even when it challenged societal expectations of her era.

A dedicated scholar, Sally attended Hood College then went on and earned a double major in biology and chemistry from Lycoming College, graduating first in her class where she was a member of the Phi Kappa Phi honor society. After college, she moved to Philadelphia and worked in a bacteriology lab, where she met her future husband, Donald Jay Brady, her brother Marshall’s roommate at the University of Pennsylvania Dental School.

Together, Sally and Donald raised four children. Later, she returned to her studies, earning a master’s degree in counseling. Her compassionate nature led her to work in battered women’s shelters and at Shepherd Pratt Psychiatric Hospital, where she made a meaningful impact on countless lives.

In her later years, after a divorce, Sally settled in Columbia, Maryland. A lifelong learner, she embraced technology, often researching topics that piqued her curiosity. She was deeply engaged with current events and enjoyed sharing her perspectives on politics and the world around her.

Sally will be remembered as a loving mother, aunt, and grandmother whose warmth, intelligence, and wit left an indelible mark on everyone she met.

She is survived by her children: William Jay Brady (wife Amie), Kathryn Irene Brady, and Susan Welch Brady McCabe (husband Bob); her grandchildren: Christopher Gafvert, Timothy Gafvert, Kathryn Gafvert, Robert “Drew” McCabe, Lauren McCabe, Valerie Brady, and Austin Brady. She was preceded in death by her ex-husband, Donald Jay Brady, and her daughter, Elizabeth “Kim” Brady.

Sally’s memory will be cherished by her family, friends, and all whose lives she touched. A celebration of her life will be held in the spring in her hometown of Williamsport, PA. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to The Lamb Center in Fairfax, Virginia.