On September 5, Adella Margaret Brady, loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend, passed away peacefully at the age of 90. Her kindness, elegance, and joy for life will be dearly missed by all who knew her.
Named after her paternal grandmother, “Del” was born on March 11, 1933, in Hackensack, New Jersey to Ralph William Legge and Aletha May (Williams) Legge. She grew up in Fairhaven, New Jersey and attended Rutherford High School. Upon graduation, she attended Vermont Junior College where she met, then married her former spouse, William (Bill) G. Crannell. Del and Bill welcomed their first child, Mark Prescott Crannell, while serving overseas in Germany, and greeted their second child, Karen Lee Crannell, soon after returning home to the United States. After living in California, Connecticut, and New York, the family settled in Manchester-by-the-Sea in 1969.
In 1974, Del married James R. Brady and together they had a son, Timothy MacDonald Brady. Del and “Jim” were married for 46 years until Jim’s death in 2021. They enjoyed traveling and spending time with friends and family at the Manchester Bath & Tennis Club, the Salem Country Club, and their home in Manchester-by-the-Sea. Del was a born entertainer. A gifted singer, soloist, and pianist, she sang with choral groups, the Vermont Symphony Orchestra, the USO, and was often featured on the radio in her younger years. After settling down with children, she spent her free time singing with the Manchester Women’s Chorus. As well as engaging in a real estate career in Manchester-by-the-Sea, Del led the Manchester Women’s Club as their president, and was honored for her work with The Visiting Nurse Association.
Del was one of a kind. Her beauty, talent, and style lit up every room she entered. She had an infectious laugh, an adventurous spirit, and a genuine kind word for all who crossed her path. Del was never without a dazzling smile and a positive attitude to match. Whether cruising in her convertible or cheering on her grandchildren at a tennis match, Del made heads turn with her easy confidence and movie star good looks. Del’s inner beauty, love, generosity, and tireless dedication to her family and friends was a warm embrace that will never be forgotten.
Del is survived by her son, Mark Prescott Crannell and his wife Marlene, her daughter and best friend, Karen Crannell Fuca and husband Joseph Fuca, and son Timothy MacDonald Brady and wife Sarah. She will be dearly missed by her brother and sister-in-law, William and Gail Legge of Cousins Island, Maine, her sister, Ellen Caputo of Brunswick, Maine, and her grandchildren, Alyssa (Crannell) Landry, Heidi (Crannell) Kaplan, Brett Crannell, Michelle Fuca, Michael Fuca, Callie Brady and Benjamin Brady, and great grandchildren Brady, Carter, Jace, Zachary, Cameron, and Faye. A private graveside burial was held on Thursday, September 14. In lieu of flowers, please donate to Alzheimer’s Foundation of America, 322 8th Avenue, 16th Floor, New York, NY 10001 or alzfdn.org.
