Marilyn Jane Bracey

Marilyn “Jane” Bracey passed away peacefully on Saturday, February 8, 2025, at the age of 95. She was born in New Orleans, LA to the late Imelda Harvey Chisholm and Louis Guy Chisholm. She is the wife of the late William “Bill” Bracey, with whom she celebrated their 74th wedding anniversary in November of 2024. She is the mother of Michael Bracey (Charlotte), Jeffery Bracey (Linda), Timothy Bracey (Brenda), Gregory Bracey (Teresa) and Mary Eileen Pansano (Tommy); the grandmother of Joyce Bracey, William Bracey; Sarah Johnson, Emily Neff, Matthew Bracey; Zachary Bracey, Erin Guidry, Rachel Bracey; Laurie Harmon, Jonathan Pansano, Cory Pansano; great-grandmother of Tucker Godbold, Eleanor Godbold, Gabriel Godbold; Kipling Bracey, Silas Bracey, Elijah Bracey, Adeline Bracey, Arlo Tillman; Aislyn Guidry, Isaac Guidry; Aubree Wiest, Noah Bracey, Jonah Bracey, Abram Bracey; Amelia Harmon, Lily Harmon, Abby Harmon; Cullen Pansano, and Isabella Pansano; and great- great-grandmother of Stevie-Linn Bracey. She is also survived by many nieces, nephews, cousins, and wonderful lifelong friends. She is preceded in death by her sisters Imelda “Mimi” Hoffman, Corliss Killeen, and Beverly Chisholm, and brothers Louis Guy “LG” Chisholm and Lester Chisholm.

As a child, she lived in the Algiers neighborhoods of Whitney Ave. and General Meyer Ave. Janie attended Holy Name of Mary from Kindergarten through High School. As a graduating senior in 1946, she penned their class motto, “The Sky’s the Limit; Heaven’s our Goal.” Her first job was at Gordon’s Jewelers on Canal St. From there she went to work for Southern Bell Telephone Company in Algiers, where she served as a telephone operator and mastered the art of telephone conversation, which was her lifelong cherished mode of communication with family and friends alike. While employed by the telephone company, she proudly played on the Algiers Bell Peppers Softball Team. She married Bill, the love of her life, in 1950.

Bill’s Navy tours brought them to live around the country in cities such as San Diego, CA; Bremerton, WA; and Olathe, KS. In the mid- 1950s, the young family returned to Algiers, where she remained a proud and active resident. She became very involved in the schools her children attended: Holy Name of Mary, St. Joseph and St. Julian Eymard (SJE). At SJE she served as room mother, substitute teacher, and fair worker for numerous years. Additionally, during her years as a homemaker, she took on several side jobs, not only to make ends meet, but also to keep her strong connections within the community. These jobs included serving as a real estate agent for many years, developing a small craft business, and making Christmas wreaths for Adrian’s Tree Service until just 15 years ago.

From a young age, she was called to patriotism. In high school she proudly attended Pelican Girls State. She loved politics and worked for several campaigns to assist candidates she felt reflected her traditional values. She loved listening to and singing along to songs from various music genres. She especially enjoyed Catholic hymns, music of the legendary crooners, and patriotic American songs. She was a one of a kind individual who was truly blessed with the gift of conversations and forming instant relationships that so often lasted a lifetime. Her talents included a flair for poetry and the sharing of seemingly endless stories. She had a keen mind and maintained her vivid memory until the end.

She was a warmhearted, giving person and an amazing problem solver who loved to help anyone struggling, whether in need of food, shelter, political assistance, or just a listening ear, and she actually took in several people in need to live in her home along the way. She was generous to her family and friends throughout the years and didn’t miss an opportunity to send a card or gift for virtually every occasion. She cherished family gatherings and meals with her family. She was truly a matriarch to whom family was more of a broad concept rather than a strict lineage.

As a cradle Catholic who embraced her faith wholeheartedly, she sought the intersession of many Saints of the Church, such as St. Lucy, Padre Pio, St. Jude and the Blessed Father Francis Xavier Seelos. When unable to attend Mass, in her latter years, she watched Sunday Mass on television with diligence and reverence. As she aged, she became immobile, legally blind and suffered immensely with lower leg and foot pain for years. She prayed regularly for healing. Every night, for the past several years, she and Bill would say a litany of different intercessory prayers for their entire extended family, special friends and themselves. It included anointing their struggling body parts (hands, shoulders, knees, legs, etc.) with blessed oils and Lourdes water.

She will certainly be missed by the many people she touched with her outgoing personality. The family expresses their deepest gratitude to the outstanding care provided by Woldenberg Village Facilities and the many dedicated workers in the Azaleas Assisted Living & Skilled Nursing Facilities there. Special thanks also to her special caretaker Mrs. Joyce Turner, who loved Janie so much, and to Larry Merchant, her outstanding home health nurse for many years. In lieu of flowers, please kindly consider a donation to Noah Bracey, her disabled great- grandson, to whom she provided help in so many ways. 

Relatives and friends are invited to attend the funeral services on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025: Public visitation at Mothe Funeral Home in Algiers from 10:30 am – 12:30 pm; Catholic Mass at Holy Name of Mary Catholic Church, 400 Verret St., New Orleans, LA 70114 at 1:00 pm. Interment will follow the next day at the Southeast Louisiana Veterans Cemetery. MOTHE Funeral Home has been entrusted with funeral arrangements. The family kindly invites you to share thoughts, fondest memories, and condolences online at www.MotheFunerals.com.