BRANDT, Mary – Passed away peacefully at home surrounded by all her family on December 25, 2018. Known to her family as “Mimi,” she will always be remembered as the Matriarch of the Brandt family, and a lifelong resident and community supporter of Healdsburg.
Born Mary Patricia Wattles on Aug. 29, 1925 to S. L. and Chalmers Wattles, she attended Healdsburg schools and graduated from Healdsburg High School in 1942. Mary attended San Jose State from 1942 to 1944 and married Milton Brandt on May 6, 1944. She became vice president of Brandt Insurance when her husband founded the business in 1962, and still holds the title today.
Throughout her life, Mary was very involved in the community, including being past president of the Healdsburg PTA, den mother for the Healdsburg Cub Scout Pack 21, former board member of the “Friends of Lake Sonoma,” past president of the Healdsburg Soroptimist Club and a volunteer for the North County Republican Club, working on various committees. Brandt has also volunteered for March of Dimes, Citizens for Community Improvement and Russian River Property Owners Associations.
She was a cherished wife, mother, mother-in-law, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, aunt and a friend to many.
Mary was preceded in death by her brother Jack Wattles D.V.M. & nephew Rick Wattles D.V.M., and survived by her brother S.L. “Wood” and Vi Wattles of Carson City, NV.
She was the beloved wife of the late F.M. “Milt” Brandt of Healdsburg, loving mother of Sally Smith (Barry), Jack Brandt (Lindsay), Joe Brandt, and Jane Conley (Dale). She was the admired grandmother of Amy Brandt Browning (Craig), Todd Brandt (Nancy), Casey Conley (Jenee), Cary Greaves (Dan), Ty Smith, Shannon Smith (Chris), Rachel Brandt Toste (PJ), and Justin Brandt (Jestinne), and adored great grandmother of Connor & Alivia Browning, Cole & Julia Conley, Milton & Parker Brandt, Layla, Lucas and Mia Greaves, Trick Smith, Alex and Max Kmiec, and Hailey Toste.
Private interment, Oak Mound Cemetery. Celebration of life for friends and family will take place on Friday, January 11, 1:00 p.m., Villa Chanticleer, 900 Chanticleer Way, Healdsburg, CA 95448.
Donations in the memory of Mary may be made to the Healdsburg Museum and Historical Society, 221 Matheson Street, Healdsburg, CA 95448 or Shriners Hospitals for Children.
– – – – – –
A 10-year anniversary letter to Mary from Milt,
dated May 6, 1954
(On Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital letterhead –
Milt was still recovering from Polio)
Ten years of married life,
With Mary as my pretty wife
We’ve had our grins, we’ve had our frowns
We’ve had our ups, we’ve had our downs
And when the years had measured three
We had our 1st surprise named Sally
And when the years had measured four
Here we were expecting more
And when Mary got over her aching back
This little fellow was called Jack
Another year had measured five
And along came our 3rd surprise
Another boy so fat and rosy,
We had a Jack we called this one Joey
Two more years went slipping past
And our prayers again were answered at last
Since this one was a little dame,
We decided to call her Mary Jane
Two more years have gone again,
So that brings us up to ten
Ten years seems quite a spell,
Since the first clear ring of the wedding bell
But if I could do it all again,
Instead of four there would be Ten
Happy Anniversary Honey
and all my love now & always
Milty
xoxo
