Neva Ruth Ann Braden

She is preceded in death by her parents, her husband Don Braden, and siblings Raymond (spouse Theral, deceased), Carol (spouse Doris, deceased), and Jerry (spouse Pat, living), as well as her son, Tommy (spouse Cindy, living).

She is survived by children Donnie (spouse Debbie), Debbie (spouse Bill, and deceased spouse Gene), and Greg (spouse Julie), as well as siblings Patsy (spouse Chuck, deceased, and deceased spouse Harold), John (spouse Barbara, and deceased spouse Doris), Sharon (spouse Doug), and Stanley (spouse Edie).

She is also survived by her grandchildren, Rachel, Kyley, Tony, Jon (spouse Mary Noble), Ryan, TJ (spouse Charize), Scott (spouse Sarah), Mandi, Michael, Katie, and Maegan (spouse Clayton); as well as great grandchildren, Amber, Lucas, Sophia, Grace, Samuel, Foster, Lily, Dylan, Michael, Jeremiah, Teddy, and Neva; and great great grandchild Mason.

She lived a full, spiritual, and joyful life surrounded by people she loved and who loved her dearly.

During the Great Depression, when Neva was five years old, she moved to California with her immediate family and several extended family members. She liked to joke that her family was the inspiration behind John Steinbeck’s The Grapes of Wrath. She shared what that long, hot, trek was like, finding humor in the story about how she and her cousin Pauline were left behind at a gas station. The young girls were distracted in the bathroom, having fun cooling themselves, splashing each other with water from the faucet, a novel technology for them as they did not have running water growing up. When they realized they had been left behind, they alerted a policeman who quickly tracked down their family.

Neva met her spouse Don during her senior year of high school. She was working at a small restaurant in Easton, CA, when he walked in. At first sight, with his height, broad shoulders, and classic good looks, he reminded her of Paul Bunyan. It really was love at first sight. They married soon after high school graduation and they began their family soon after that. They had Donnie a year later and Debbie a year after that. Four years later, they had Greg, and two years later, Tommy.

Don and Neva moved their family to Oxnard when Donnie and Debbie were young (before Greg and Tommy were born). Neva worked as a telephone operator there and Don at a dairy. Neva’s sister Sharon, when she was eleven years old, would stay with them during summer months to babysit Donnie and Debbie. Eventually they made their way back to Fresno and remained there for the rest of their lives.

Neva worked in several packing sheds prior to her job at the IRS, to which she retired from after 27 years. She made several friends there, including close family friend Karen Olson. For many years after retirement, Neva had lunch with a group of work friends, called the Lunch Bunch. Neva and Don cared for Don’s little brother, Jimmy, for several years. They hosted Thanksgiving and Christmas at their house, always welcoming anyone, regardless of whether they were family. Neva was known for baking several delicious pies (pumpkin, pecan, chocolate cream, coconut cream, lemon meringue, to name a few) in addition to the traditional staples. At Christmas, she would fill up stockings for every child and grandchild and string them up by a long chain that surrounded the entire living room. Though it was a large family, everyone received gifts. It was quite the spectacle, but she and Don cherished those moments. They crafted many gifts for friends and family. Don would cut wooden patterns and Neva would paint them. She also crocheted many blankets, scarves, and other items. For many years, they hosted an annual craft show at their house.

Their house was always full of family and cheerfulness, as well as delicious smells coming from her kitchen. Her grandchildren remember spending many nights there, waking up to breakfast with grandma and grandpa, including biscuits and gravy, bacon, sausage, waffles, and pancakes. They also remember grandma’s cooked spam sandwiches, with lots of mayo on toasted bread. Neva was an incredible cook who enjoyed preparing meals for those she loved. Several years ago, her granddaughter, Rachel, collected Neva’s well-known recipes and created a cookbook that was given to all her children and grandchildren. Her cooking prowess lives on in these recipes and in our memories.

Later in life, she enjoyed playing Bingo with a group of friends. She also enjoyed traveling across the US and going on cruises with her family. She remained incredibly close to her siblings throughout life. She loved her dogs, Jazzy and Angel. Perhaps her most favorite thing was having an active role in the lives of her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. She is remembered as a gentle, caring, and loving soul, generous, with a quick-witted humor shared by her siblings, and a strong, independent nature, some would say stubborn (upstairs, Don must be agreeing to all of this). In short, to know her was to love her, and her life remains an example of how to live our own.

The funeral service will be Friday, January 13th, 10am, at Stephens and Bean Funeral Chapel (202 N. Teilman, Fresno, CA 93706). Lunch and celebration of life reception will begin afterwards, at Sharon and Doug Moore’s home (7304 E. Dennett, Fresno, CA 93727). In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Bristol Hospice of Fresno, or to any local animal shelter.

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