Avalon Moll

Avalon Moll was 102 years and 10 days old when she passed away peacefully at her home in Hawthorne, California on March 22, 2026. She was born in Ellis, Kansas on March 12, 1924, and married her high school sweetheart, Ed Brien, in 1942. They met when they were musicians in the high school marching band; Avalon was a drummer and Ed played tuba.

After their marriage they lived in a variety of locations dependent on where Ed was stationed. He served as a musician in the US Navy Band during WWII. Avalon and Ed shared a love of music, dancing, riding motorcycles, and having fun. Their first child, Bobbi Jean, was born in Alabama. Following Ed’s service in the Navy, they moved to California where their second child, Verne, was born.

After Avalon and Ed divorced, Avalon married Ken Moll in August of 1967. They became a blended family of 5 adding two daughters, Paula and Cathy, and a son, Dan. In 1972, Avalon and Ken purchased a home in Hawthorne where they created many memories. After Ken’s death Avalon continued to make Hawthorne her home where she lived for 55 years.

Avalon was creative, artistic, and independent. Not only did she have a flair for dressing in cool coordinated colors, at the age of 88 she chose to do a whole house remodel creating new decor using her favorite colors of aqua and pink. Her hummingbird collection, as well as other arts and crafts, found new ways to be displayed. What a blessing it was that she was able to live in and love her beautiful home with amazing neighbors for the past 14 years.

Over the years her talent for crocheting grew from an enjoyable hobby to an artisan level of expertise. She was prolific in creating afghans, baby blankets, and items for holiday decor, often giving them as gifts. She kept her body and mind young by playing bingo, exercising, walking, and doing water aerobics. She was even line dancing when she was in her 90’s.

As her friends and family are grieving, they are also filled with gratitude for the ways in which she touched their lives. They will remember her creativity, musical ability, kindness, fierce independence, unique style, love of bingo and game shows, and, of course, her sense of humor.

Her church friends, her awesome neighbors, and even her doctors and mechanic became her extended family. She shared love, hugs, and homemade cookies with them. The candy jar on the coffee table was always full and available for guests. Avalon was a member of the Lawndale Wesleyan Church for many years. On Sundays, it was her habit to load her purse full of hard candy. Before and after church (and sometimes during) one might catch her stealthily and silently slipping a piece of candy to someone when she thought no one was looking.

Avalon is survived by children: Bobbi Webb and Verne Brien; and stepchildren: Paula Sundquist and Cathy Hampson; 9 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren, 18 great-great-grandchildren, various generations of nieces, nephews, cousins and adopted grandchildren. Preceding her in death were her husbands: Ed Brien and Ken Moll; two sisters: Charlaine Cohen and O’Detta Hawkins; two brothers: Verne Westphal and Val Westphal; a niece, Juli Cohen Ayers; and a stepson, Dan Moll.

A Memorial Service and Celebration of Avalon’s life will be held at 2 p.m. on May 30th, 2026 at Lighthouse Memorials & Receptions, 5310 Torrance Blvd., Torrance, California. Reception to follow at the same location.

Donations in memory of Avalon may be made to her church, The Lawndale Wesleyan Church, 4455 W. 168th. Street, Lawndale, CA 90260, or via Zelle or PayPal to: [email protected].

Please see a recording of the service via this link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XYIL-SEFFnU