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Braye, Vaneta 'Vi' M.
Vaneta “Vi” M. Braye, 81, of Marion, passed to her heavenly home on Wednesday, Jan. 23, 2013, at St. Luke's Hospital, Cedar Rapids. Services: 10 a.m. Saturday at First United Methodist Church of Marion by the Rev. Mike Morgan. Burial: Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery, Cedar Rapids. Visitation will be Friday from 4 to 8 p.m. at Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home in Cedar Rapids and after 9 a.m. at the church on Saturday.
Vaneta was born June 9, 1931, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, the daughter of Earl and Irene (Moffett) Starr. She married Donald G. Braye on Aug. 6, 1956, in Kirksville, Mo.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Donald G. Braye in 2008; and her brother, Walter (Ruth) Starr.
Survivors include her children, Gene (Pat) Neville of Greenville, S, C., and Peggy (Ron) Newmire, Phil (Louanne) Neville, Pam Braye and Patricia (Steve) Cavanaugh, all of Cedar Rapids; 11 grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; brother-in-law and sisters-in-law; and many nieces and nephews.
She was a member of First United Methodist Church of Marion, the ARC of Linn County, Options, and numerous women's card clubs. Vaneta and her husband, Donald, were recognized by the ARC Association for their many years of fundraising and raising awareness for Citizens with Disabilities by being named Volunteers of the Year. Vaneta and Donald loved to travel to new destinations, revisit their lifelong friends from various states they had lived, and camping almost anywhere.
She will always be remembered for her tailoring skills, love of reading, jigsaw puzzles, and warm and hospitable nature. No one walked into her home a stranger, who did not leave a friend. Her love of family and friends has touched many lives. She was a comforting source of wisdom, but was not afraid to give you a good “what for” if you were not doing the “right thing.” The legacy she left for her family was to face life's challenges with courage and compassion, while always keeping your eyes on God's reward in Heaven.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Camp Courageous www.campcourageous.org.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.cedarmemorial.com.
Published Jan. 25, 2013 in The Gazette
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