Susan "Sue" Brody

It is with profound sadness, yet with the feeling of celebration of a long, fruitful life, that we note the passing of Susan “Sue” Brody, a longtime Petaluma resident who passed away peacefully in the home she resided for nearly 75 years, March 17, after a brief illness, less than a month before her 96th birthday.

She was born April 11, 1928 in Brooklyn, NY, to parents who had immigrated to the United States from Eastern Europe. The family resided in a small apartment above a delicatessen (the deli had their only access to a phone). Her father worked in the garment industry and was active in organizing the labor union movement. Her mother was a homemaker. One of her earliest memories is being hoisted on her father’s shoulders to watch the then new Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

 Sue worked several jobs from the age of 14, and would take the subway from Brooklyn to Long Island City High School, where she was captain of the school volleyball team. She was a typical “bobby soxer” of the 1940s, an avid fan of Frank Sinatra, attending his concerts. She enjoyed ice skating at Rockefeller Center and loved dancing, entering dance contests. She attended Brooklyn Dodger games at Ebbets Field with her father, becoming a longtime Dodger fan, much to the dismay of Giants fans in the family.

Her father suffered from sinus issues, and on the advice of doctors to move to a better climate, her parents and younger brother moved to San Francisco. Sue soon joined them after graduating from high school. On a previous visit, she had met Seymour Brody of Petaluma on a set-up date. It was city girl meets country bumpkin in a classic case of opposites attract, and the marriage lasted more than 71 years until her husband passed away in 2019.

She worked as a school monitor and later for many years in retail, including Marc Reif’s boutique and hair salon, and Mattei Brothers, until they closed, from selling and buying to window displays. She also worked at Main Street Custom Furniture, owned by her daughter and son-in-law. She thoroughly enjoyed helping people with their buying decisions, adding her own personal touch.

She was a lifetime member of Hadassah and active in the Petaluma Jewish Community Center Sisterhood.

Sue was entertained by fashion, all kinds of music (particularly Big Band from the 1940s and old country classics), reading local newspapers and magazines, watching TV shows and movies (1940s era in black and white were favorites), cooking and baking. She enjoyed family get-togethers, and her days were brightened whenever she saw or talked with her grandchildren and great grandchildren. Suffering from severe chronic pain in her later years, she still exercised as vigorously as possible in her walker and on a small stationary bike. She remained mentally sharp and feisty as ever to the very end. She will be greatly missed but her spirit will always live on.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Seymour Brody, her parents, Simon and Sophie Wasserman, and her brother, Matthew Wasserman.  She is survived by sons Jeffrey Brody of Windsor, Martin Brody of Petaluma and daughter Bonnie Hendrickson (son-in-law Jeff Hendrickson) of Texas; grandchildren (who knew her as “Grammy”) Scott and Kyle Hendrickson of Texas and Ozell Bowman-Brody of Petaluma; great granddaughters Saylor Sophie Hendrickson and Capri Catherine Hendrickson of Texas; nieces Cynthia Luce of Napa and Bobbie Wasserman of Thousand Oaks. A special gratitude to live-in caregiver Ruci Yavu, and Suzan Jones, for their caring and help during the past several years. And to Dr. James Leoni for his longtime care and friendship.

Private family graveside services conducted by Parent-Sorensen Mortuary were held at Cypress Hill Memorial Park. Donations are preferred to any charity dedicated to helping children or animals in need.

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