Letty O'Brien

The self-professed “Mayor of Aragona” was born to the late William Slade and Laura Mason on July 19, 1927 in Norfolk, Va. Jean graduated from Aurora High School in North Carolina. She married the late William Malbon O’Brien in March of 1944, and they lived together in Virginia Beach for more than fifty years.

Jean was an active member of Christ Presbyterian Church, serving as a Deacon and on the Session. She was a fan of all sports, particularly First Colonial High School Wrestling, and Princess Anne High School Football, but more importantly the teams that her “grandkids” were playing on.

Jean is survived by three children, Buster O’Brien and his wife Karen, Nancy DeMille and her husband Bobby, Kevin O’Brien and his wife Nancy, eight grandchildren: Lisa, Happy, Michelle, Don, Patrick, Jenn, Erin, Ryland, Gram and Nevin and two great grandchildren: Nolin and Braden. She is also survived by two brothers, Larry, his wife Judy, and Julius, and a sister, Gloria, as well as her aunt Ada Kinsall and Uncle Bud Flowers. She was predeceased by a sister Lois Barker. Nana, as she was known to most, was also survived by many, many people she considered her children and grandchildren, including Laura Ellis, Kim and Noureddine Elforsi, Michelle and Scott Lauter and Wayne and Lisa Stradlin.

The family would also like to acknowledge the kind and most professional efforts of Dr. Richard DeMassi, the late Dr. Jack Garrison and Dr. Norma Magpoc and their wonderful staffs; as well as the nursing staff of Sentara Virginia Beach Hospital.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Christ Presbyterian Church in her name.

Services will be conducted at Smith & Williams Funeral Home, Kempsville Chapel at 2:00 pm on Friday, August 3, 2012 with internment immediately following at Rosewood Memorial Park. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 pm on Thursday at the funeral home.