Betty Brady

Betty Brady (nee Keyes), age 87, of Little Falls, passed away peacefully on Friday, May 27, 2022.

Betty was born and raised, along with her two brothers, at the family’s home on Broadway in Paterson. She attended Central High School and was always so very proud of her Irish heritage. In fact, if you were Irish and didn’t wear green on St. Patrick’s Day, she’d be a bit disappointed.

Betty was born to be a mom, and as a mom, despite having to also play the role of father, and despite having to raise her sons with limited means, she was a mother who was cherished and adored by her two sons, Frank and Joseph. Betty raised them in the Hillcrest section of Paterson in a modest home filled with love at Berkshire and Union Ave. Her boys were her treasures and she’d do anything for them. She didn’t drive a car but with grit and determination and a bus ticket or a cab ride, she always got the boys where they needed to be. While it is true that she bestowed upon them an abundant supply of love, Betty strongly believed that the proper recipe for raising her sons included an equal amount of tough love. She didn’t like the tough love part but when she had to, she dished it out with the help of a wiffle ball bat, a wooden spoon, or a sweeping broom. Now, some might call that child abuse, but Frank and Joe would strongly disagree. They knew when they had it coming, and they are so thankful to their mother Betty for her courage to do the right thing. If not for her guidance and hard-learned lessons about consequences, they both would attest to the fact that they would not be the men they are today. In fact, they both served successful careers in the Passaic County Sheriff’s Department, and both retired as Captains. But Frank and Joe would both agree that this story is not about them. It’s about Betty and Betty was so incredibly proud of both of her sons. Beaming with that pride she would ask them “How did you boys achieve so much?” As they looked at Betty to answer her question, they would always say, “We’re looking at the reason for our success Mom!” They loved and respected her with all their hearts and one little sign of proof was the chain with a locket that said “#1 Mom” that she humbly wore around her neck – a gift from her sons.  

The most important things in Betty’s life were not the usual material possessions that are pursued by so many today – new cars, the latest big-screen television, going to fancy restaurants or on exotic vacations. Nope! Betty considered family, friends, and her pets to be the most important, cherished parts of life and that’s where she invested her time. Not only was she a superb mother, but she was also a fantastic grandmother! She was great with her grandchildren and considered them a treasured gift in her life. She’d play games with them and watch Barney on TV – whatever made them happy. She was always ready and eagerly willing to babysit her grandchildren so her sons could go out to dinner with their wives and friends. It was tradition that Betty and the kids would have Friendly’s Ice Cream whenever she watched them. Well, those little grandchildren grew up to be big, accomplished grandchildren and again, Betty was so proud of all of them and happy for their accomplishments! Grandson Frank, Jr. grew up to be a financial planner, his new wife Frances a nurse practitioner, Betty’s grandson Christopher, a Doctor of Physical Therapy, grandson Joseph, Asst. Vice President at Blackstone, and grandson Anthony, a Doctor of Dental Medicine. Wow! Betty passed on good genes to her grandchildren!

During her lifetime, Betty loved and cherished many-a pooch. There was Rex, Nellie, Snowball (who had big ears), Mike, Lucky, and Buddy (Oh! And one cat named Minnie). When Lucky died, Betty’s son Joe wanted to cheer her up, so he impulsively adopted a rambunctious rescue puppy named Buddy. He proudly presented Buddy to Betty but then quickly realized that Buddy was nuts and almost impossible to control. Joe, being very concerned that Buddy was going to be too much for his mom, explained that he was going to find a different home for Buddy and get Betty a new dog. Betty’s reaction was “No Way!” Put it this way, the famous Dog Whisperer could have learned a few things about training a dog from Betty! Buddy didn’t prove to be too much for her. In fact, today Buddy is the most calm, well-behaved dog you’ll ever find.

About 20 years ago, Betty moved to the Hilltop Manor Apartments in Little Falls. There she quickly made many friends who meant the world to her. Her family is grateful for the love and loyalty that these friends bestowed upon Betty. Thank you to Esther who brought Betty breakfast every Saturday and faithfully visited her every day when Betty was in rehab due to a fall this past April. Thank you to Ingrid who faithfully walked Buddy three times a day. Thank you to Randy who faithfully looked after Betty by bringing her food and regularly checked in on her. Thank you to Brittany who was Betty’s next-door-neighbor who faithfully looked after her and brought her presents. Thank you to Omar and Willie, the superintendents at Hilltop Manor. Finally, Betty’s family is so appreciative to Betty’s late friend Lois who was such a close friend of Betty.  

When Betty sustained a recent fall, she ended up in rehab and there were two major motivations that she used to help her get better:  she wasn’t going to miss walking down the aisle for her grandson Frank Brady, Jr. and his bride Frances’ wedding, and nothing was going to stop her from getting home to her dear Buddy. She channeled her feisty, determined, overcoming spirit, and made both happen! Betty would also surely give credit to God for helping her through. She had a strong faith and religiously prayed to St. Jude with her rosary, every day.  

A huge thank you Betty, from Frank, Aggie (whose superb cooking was so appreciated and missed after Aggie’s sudden passing in 2017), Gina, Joe, Ginny, Frank, Jr., Frances, Christopher, Joe, III, Victoria, and Anthony!

Betty was the loved, respected, and adored mother of Frank Brady of Wayne, and Joseph, Brady Jr., and wife Ginny of Wayne; cherished grandmother of: Frank Brady, Jr. and wife Frances, Christopher Brady, Joseph Brady, III and fiancé Victoria Cardillo, and Anthony Brady; dear aunt of Frances Stols; dear sister of the late James Keyes and the late Louis Keyes; and dear mother-in-law of the late Agnes “Aggie” Brady.

In lieu of flowers, those planning an expression of sympathy in Betty’s name are asked to consider:

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital

Memorial Processing

501 St. Jude Place Memphis, TN 38105-9959

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