Ethel Mary Brodie

Rev. Brodie was born in Paterson, New Jersey and was ordained as a Methodist Minister in the Greater NJ Conference. She served as pastor of several Methodist churches in New Jersey including those in the towns of Edison, Denville, Morristown and Hackettstown, NJ. She married Colin Brodie in 1993, and upon their retirement they moved to Discovery Bay, CA in 2001 where she became active in the Delta Community Presbyterian Church.

Her sermon style was warm and personal, and made her a much-loved pastor in the churches she served. A true “people” person, she made many friends during her lifetime who continued to stay in touch over the years.

Retirement brought the opportunity for Ethel and Colin to indulge in their passion for travel, with trips to many far-flung places, often with family or friends, including an African safari, China, Cambodia, Vietnam, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Hawaii, Alaska, Iceland, Greenland and India to name just a few. Ethel wrote a popular travel blog, and while traveling sent daily “Find Ethel and Colin” emails enabling us to be arm-chair travelers experiencing new places and adventures along with them.

Keeping fit was part of her routine, and she could often be spotted on her daily 6 -7 mile fun walks around Discovery Bay. Exercise classes and healthy cooking kept her in shape, too.

Blessed with a loving family, she is survived by her husband and best friend of 23 years, Colin; sons James Mach of Alexandria, VA and Jonathan Lubach, of Tallahassee, FL; daughter, Jocelyn Lubach of Peoria, AZ; grandchildren, Victoria Lubach and Joshua Lubach of Vacaville, CA, and Ivy Mach of Alexandria, VA; son Kevin Brodie of Richmond, CA; daughter Colleen Brodie of Medina, OH; grandchildren Shane Brodie and Jared Brodie of Stockton, CA; great-grandchildren Jasmine Brodie and Nicholas Brodie of Stockton, CA; brothers Rev. Dr. James Van Der Wall of Plantation Lakes, DE and John Van Der Wall of San Juan Capistrano, CA; and sisters Barbara Koetsier of Longboat Key, FL and Ruth Minnaard of Franklin Lakes, NJ.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held at St. Anne’s Catholic Church, 2800 Camino Diablo, Byron, CA 94514 on Friday, May 20th at 11:00 a.m. A reception will follow the service.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that tax-deductible contributions be made to a new non-profit corporation that has been formed: The Ethel M. Brodie Memorial Scholarship Fund, 7558 West Thunderbird Road, Suite 1-413, Peoria, AZ 85381. The mission of this non-profit is to provide educational support for students and schools, a fitting tribute to the legacy of this amazing woman who left us much too soon.