Genevieve "Ginny" E. Braun

Genevieve (“Ginny”) E. Braun, passed away on December 14th at the age of 90, at Abington Hospital, surrounded by her family.

Ginny was born and raised in Havertown, PA to the late Ezra B. and Ann (Eastburn) Parsels on April 17, 1932, as the youngest of two children. Her most identifying feature was her beautiful red hair. Ginny graduated from Haverford Senior High School, where she was known as “Gee-Gee.” In high school, Ginny enjoyed competitive sports and social clubs, where she was remembered for “her knack of making friends.”

After high school, Ginny attended secretarial school, becoming proficient in the lost art of Gregg shorthand. She worked for French Line, a cruise line with offices on Walnut Street in Philadelphia, before retiring to raise her family. Ginny never lost her love of organizing, note taking and Gregg shorthand. Over the years, many notes were left that couldn’t be easily read as they were half written in shorthand. This will be a cherished memory.

Ginny married Henry W. Braun, of Philadelphia, on August 29, 1959, at St. Faith Episcopal Church in Havertown, PA. Ginny and Henry met at a dance at Wagner’s Ballroom on Broad Street North of Olney Avenue in June of 1958, where he described her as “his dream girl”. In less than 6 months, they were engaged. Henry and Ginny became lifelong residents of Springfield Township. They established their first home in Erdenheim, PA. After beginning their family, they moved to Oreland, PA and raised their family there before moving to the Spring House Estates Retirement Community in 2007 where she enjoyed special friendships for the past 15 years.

Ginny leaves behind Henry, her loving and devoted husband of 63 years, as well as her five adoring children: Karen (Jimmy) Smoots of Wilmington, DE; Linda (Jim) Heckman of Arlington, VA; Janet (Joe) Noone of Bel Air, MD; Pamela (Bill) Corcoran of Havertown, PA, and Michael (Colleen) Braun of Oreland, PA. She also leaves behind 12 loving grandchildren: Alyse (Dave) Thomas, Natalie and Steven Heckman, Colin, Ryan, and Jason Noone, Sydney, Paige, and Peter Corcoran, and Elle, Molly, and Casey Braun. Ginny is predeceased by her parents and her sister, Jane Parsels of Rosemont, PA.

Ginny’s passion was her family, first and foremost, watching her kids and grandkids excel in sports, namely, aquatics. Ginny loved her family dearly. Her children, their spouses and her 12 grandchildren were the light of her life. She had a vast array of interests and accomplishments over her lifetime. All who knew her realized that she gave 100% to everything she committed herself to. Early in her life, as her girls were growing up, she was very involved in the Girl Scouts. She was leader of Girl Scout Junior Troop 659 for over 5 years, even graduating to be the local Cadette leader to follow her girls. She received accolades from the Local and National Girl Scout chapters as well as local leaders for her community involvement and work with the Girl Scouts. She also made sure Troop 659 always won for highest cookie sales during her tenure. Ginny was also very involved with the Oreland Swim Club, receiving countless awards for her involvement there while enthusiastically cheering her children and grandchildren on the swim team. In later years, Ginny was continually active at her beloved Spring House Estates, volunteering as G-wing director for 12 years, and coordinating the community newsletter for 14 years. She also volunteered with the Marketing Department for many years promoting the retirement community to all her vast array of friends in the area. She had said her one regret was that “they didn’t move to Spring House sooner. “

In addition, Ginny had a lifelong passion for the culinary arts. She loved to collect cookbooks and try new recipes. She even kept framed menus from French Line. When they moved to Spring House Estates, one of the first committees she joined was Culinary where she was able to contribute to meal planning and the dining presentation. She especially loved meeting and mentoring the young servers hired for the dining room. To honor this passion, the family will be establishing an annual scholarship fund to award young people working in Spring House Estates culinary area.

Ginny’s other lifelong interests included traveling, especially taking vacations with her family. Her favorite vacation spots were the Adirondacks (Loon Lake), NY where the family vacationed in the early years and Ocean City, NJ. Ginny loved the beach. She also enjoyed furniture refinishing, which she learned from her beloved father; gardening, which she passed on to all her children; hiking at the Schuylkill Valley Nature Center identifying wildflowers; and watching figure skating. Additionally, she followed the Royals; read People Magazine; and watched The Bachelorette with her eldest grandchild, Alyse (Lisey).

Above all, she loved getting and receiving cards. She never missed a birthday, even having Linda and Natalie’s birthday cards ready and waiting for them days before her passing.

Ginny will be best remembered for her charisma, positivity and indominable spirit. She will be missed by all who know her, especially her family. We will all remember her bright, easy smile that lit up her eyes.

A private memorial service will be held at Spring House Estates in Lower Gwynedd at a later date. Arrangements are being handled by Shaeff-Meyers Funeral Home. On-line condolences may be offered at https://www.shaeff-myers.com/.

The family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations be made in her memory to ACTS Legacy Foundation designating Spring House Estates Samaritan Fund. Checks can be made payable to ACTS Legacy Foundation, 420 Delaware Drive, P.O. Box 2222, Ft. Washington, PA 19034 or online at https://www.actsretirement.org/acts-benevolence/acts-legacy-foundation-ways-to-give/ways-to-give/.