Eileen M. Brando

Eileen Brando - daughter, sister, wife, mom, grandmother, great-grandmother, friend and neighbor passed away peacefully on Friday, June 27, 2025, surrounded by loved ones listening to stories about the good old days of East 97th Street.

Born in Manhattan, NY on November 25, 1939, to Fred and Alice Muller, she was a New York City girl through and through. She loved to walk everywhere – to 86th street, Uptown, Central Park, John Jay Pool with her kids and their friends, to the Associated and of course to St. Francis de Sales Church where she was a parishioner for over 50 years. When she wasn’t walking, she’d always take the bus or the train to get around, unless she was with a grandchild, then they’d of course take a taxi! She loved to go to Kmart downtown with her son and also go into the fancy stores on Madison Avenue to “browse”, even though she knew she couldn’t afford anything in them. When she wasn’t on the go, she was content on sitting on the stoop or in front of the projects hanging out with friends or sitting at home watching I Love Lucy, The Honeymooners, General Hospital and ordering from QVC.

She lived her entire life on the Upper East Side/Spanish Harlem and when she’d visit her sister or her granddaughter in the suburbs, she’d often complain about how quiet it was – that is a true New Yorker for you!

Eilleen had a compassion about her that was hard to find in such a cold world. A childlike silliness that is a breath of fresh air in days when things seem so heavy. A generosity that would make you think she had millions of dollars in the bank. And how lucky are we that we had her in our lives for so long.

Eileen is survived by her daughter Maryann Busardo and husband John, her son John Brando, her granddaughter, Dawn Andrews and her husband Bobby, her grandson, Jonathan Busardo, her great grandson, Brayden Andrews, her brother Freddy Muller, nieces, nephews and many of friends who were like family.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Dominic Brando, her daughter Patricia Brando, her son Donnie Brando and her sister, Helen Lietz.

A wake will be held on Wednesday, July 2, 2025, from 3:00pm – 8:00pm at Chas. Peter Nagel Funeral Home located at 352 East 87th Street. A Catholic Funeral Mass will be held on Thursday, July 3, 2025, at 10:00am at St. Francis de Sales Church located at 135 East 96th Street.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to a favorite charity of Eileen’s - St. Jude’s Children Hospital, in her memory.

The world was a better place because Eileen was in it, and she will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her.