Aino Kyllikki (Patynen) Brayer

Born in London during World War II, Aino and her family immigrated to the United States when she was a young child. The family settled in Mattydale, a suburb of Syracuse, NY. Growing up, Aino loved piano, reading, and horses....she often could be found reading books while lying bareback on the neighbor's horse! After high school, Aino enrolled in nursing school at Highland Hospital and received her RN degree.

During nursing school, she met Richard "Dick" Brayer, who she would later marry. They were married 51 years! They had three daughters, Lisa, Jill, and Lori. While the girls were young, Aino stayed home full time to care for and nurture her daughters. With Dick's career at Eastman Kodak, they would have homes in New York, New Jersey, Richardson, TX (where the girls grew up), Missouri, and would finally settle in The Woodlands, TX. Aino returned to nursing when the family moved to The Woodlands in 1992. She worked with home health and nursing home care. She had an affinity for taking care of the elderly and truly loved her patients.

The home she and Dick created in The Woodlands was the gathering spot for the family for the last 30 + years . Many wonderful memories happened during this time with immediate and extended family visiting frequently. Aino loved her eight grandchildren...she often would say "how blessed we are to have them all!" We are going to miss her quiet observations as the family was running around, her enjoyment of one-on-one conversations with a cup of coffee, her nurturing guidance and support, and oh-so-obvious love for her family.

Aino leaves her daughters, Lisa Ochoa (Jamie) of Richardson, TX, Jill Nickel (Jeff) of Ozark, MO, Lori Gaudern (Stephen) of Conroe, TX , and her grandchildren, Jacob, Matthew, Megan, Katie, Luke, Caleb, and Logan. She is preceded in death by her husband Dick, parents Aune and Erkki Patynen, sister Paula Slattery, and her oldest grandson, Joshua.

Aino's service will be a private gravesite event. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to MD Anderson, The Epilepsy Foundation of America, or to the Joshua Richard Ochoa Endowment Fund at Texas Tech University.

(https://give.ttu.edu/JoshuaOchoaScholarship )

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.forestparkthewoodlands.com for the Brayer family.