Sara Louise Brady, née Choplin, died following a brief illness on July 22, 2023, just days after her 85th birthday, surrounded by many of her family members. Born in Sedalia, Missouri on July 17, 1938, she was the eldest of three children born to David and Louise Choplin. The family relocated in her high school years to Roeland Park, KS. She attended Kansas State University in Manhattan, before meeting and marrying Allen Brady in August 1958. The couple met just outside of Manhattan while Allen was stationed at Fort Riley, Kansas. He was taken by her beautiful brown eyes. After marriage, the couple lived in Houston, TX while Allen finished his master’s degree at the University of Houston. The couple then relocated to Cambridge, Massachusetts, while Allen completed his doctorate at Harvard University. The couple, along with their two small sons, moved to Michigan in 1964, eventually settling in Holland, where Allen taught Biology at Hope College. Hope College warmly welcomed Allen and Sara and made them part of their community. The First Presbyterian Church was also a large part of their life in Holland, where they formed a large group of close friends.
Once Michael and Kevin and daughters Melinda and Jennifer were in school, Sara worked at Western Theological Seminary and then as an office manager for the City of Holland. Following Allen’s retirement from Hope in 2000, Sara and Allen took memorable trips to Hawaii, Ireland and England, and Trinidad and Tobago. In her free time, Sara enjoyed visiting with friends, home decorating and house projects, sewing, needlepoint, and talking about and visiting her grandchildren.
With her generous spirit, quick wit and caring nature, Sara made friends easily. She was outgoing and loved being with people. She was always ready to share stories, listen, and support her friends and family. She spent much of her life taking care of people, encouraging them, and keeping her family members connected with one another.
Sara Brady was preceded in death by her parents, Louise and David, her brother David Choplin of Charlotte, NC, and her sister Jane Roes of Charlotte, NC. She is survived by her husband of 65 years, Allen Brady, and her four children, Michael, Kevin (Jennifer Redmann) of Lancaster, PA, Melinda Brady-Osborne of Madison, WI, and Jennifer Brady-Johnson (Robert Johnson) of Medina, MN. She also leaves four grandchildren, Emma Sundin (Camden Sundin), Colin and Nick Johnson, and Adam Osborne. She is also survived by her sister Jane’s family in Charlotte, NC: a brother-in-law, Allen Roes, niece Gina Roes, nephew Courtney Roes (Krista Grant Roes), and grandnephew Alex Roes. Her surviving cousins in Missouri are Sheryl Viet (Robert) of New Bloomfield, Dale Wasson of Sedalia, Jimmy Reed of Hughesville, and Betty Jo Minor of La Monte.
A small family burial will be held in Holland, MI at Pilgrim Home on July 29th. A remembrance gathering will be held at a later date at Dykstra Funeral Home, Mulder Chapel.
