1918
Ethel
2015
Ethel Woolam Broman
April 24, 1918 — September 20, 2015
Harlingen, TX:
Ethel Woolam Broman, beloved sister, aunt, mother, grandmother, friend, bridge-player, seamstress, and snazzy dresser, died on Sunday, September 20, 2015 at the age of 97.
Ethel was raised during the Great Depression and often told the story of how she and her sisters would come home from school and have to pick cotton in the fields of San Benito. In 1933, a hurricane made landfall near Brownsville and Ethel survived the storm by clinging to a palm tree while her father rushed her younger siblings to safety.
Ethel began her cheerleading career at San Benito High School and honed her skills throughout her lifetime as she cheered for her friends and family in all of their endeavors. She lifted all of us up.
She made her bed every morning and was dressed and ready for the day by 6:30 a.m. A major disappointment was when, at the age of 94, her drivers license was revoked. This put a major cramp in her busy schedule of visiting friends, dinners at the Elks Lodge, her weekly bridge game and going to church on Sunday.
An accomplished seamstress, she took great pride in making her own clothing, homecoming and prom dresses and authentic 1776 outfits for her grandchildren to celebrate the 1976 Bicentennial. These costumes won many awards and Ethel was highlighted in several newspapers across the state for her Spirit of ’76.
Ethel provided loving and firm guidance and expected her offspring to use proper etiquette, table manners and grammar. She corrected her grandchildren many times on the correct usage of pronouns (e.g., She is older than “I”.) and to be sure to not hit the side of the glass with the spoon when stirring iced tea. She also stressed fiscal responsibility and stated that 10% of every dollar earned should be saved and most importantly, one must “live within your means”. She earned a business secretary degree at Akron Business School in 1939. Her career began as a medical records transcriptionist, but she found her calling in banking. For 26 years, she was the secretary to the President of the First National Bank in Harlingen -- her crowning achievement was being selected Secretary of the Year in 1958.
Ethel loved to bake – her signature favorites included Forty-niners, Italian Cream, Texas Sheath and Mandarin Orange Cake. If you stopped by for a visit, she always put on a fresh pot of coffee and would offer you something sweet to eat.
She loved a party; any occasion counted. Just say the word and she
would whip out one of her famous casseroles and could feed a crowd with a casserole, tossed salad and a bundt cake – all served on her prized china, her mother’s Desert Rose pattern.
A woman before her time, Ethel implored her nieces, daughter and granddaughters to get their college degree so that they would always be self-sufficient and not have to depend “on a man” to support them.
In 1962, Ethel married Al Broman, “Pops”, the love of her life. Their marriage was punctuated with laughter, bowling, bridge foursomes, Friday night dates and calling each other “Honey” and “Gal”. Just prior to his retirement, they attended night school together to become certified as licensed real estate broker and agent. It is with full, happy hearts that we can find comfort knowing that they are now reunited. So, as Mommies would say, “Let’s be happy!”
Ethel is survived by her sister, Ankie Cantwell , daughter, Jennifer Mabry, granddaughters Joan Santa Maria (Michael), Gina Soddy, and grandson, John McDonald (Kay). Ethel dearly loved her 11 great grandchildren and 2 great great grandchildren. Ethel was pre-deceased by husband, Al Broman, grandson, Jeff McDonald, sisters, Yvonne, Eunice and Louise and brothers, Pete and Buddy.
A celebration of Ethel’s life will be held at Wesley United Methodist Church at 11:00 am on Friday, September 25. Afterwards, friends are invited to join the family at a luncheon (including dessert and coffee!) in the Charter Hall where we will visit and share fun memories of an extraordinary woman who touched so many lives. Private interment at Mont Meta Memorial Park in San Benito, Texas.
Those desiring to do so may make donations to Wesley United Methodist Church or charity of choice.
Please send sympathy cards to the Ethel Woolam Broman Family, in care of Buck Ashcraft Funeral Home, 710 Ed Carey Dr., Harlingen, Texas 78550.
Ethel Woolam Broman, beloved sister, aunt, mother, grandmother, friend, bridge-player, seamstress, and snazzy dresser, died on Sunday, September 20, 2015 at the age of 97.
Ethel was raised during the Great Depression and often told the story of how she and her sisters would come home from school and have to pick cotton in the fields of San Benito. In 1933, a hurricane made landfall near Brownsville and Ethel survived the storm by clinging to a palm tree while her father rushed her younger siblings to safety.
Ethel began her cheerleading career at San Benito High School and honed her skills throughout her lifetime as she cheered for her friends and family in all of their endeavors. She lifted all of us up.
She made her bed every morning and was dressed and ready for the day by 6:30 a.m. A major disappointment was when, at the age of 94, her drivers license was revoked. This put a major cramp in her busy schedule of visiting friends, dinners at the Elks Lodge, her weekly bridge game and going to church on Sunday.
An accomplished seamstress, she took great pride in making her own clothing, homecoming and prom dresses and authentic 1776 outfits for her grandchildren to celebrate the 1976 Bicentennial. These costumes won many awards and Ethel was highlighted in several newspapers across the state for her Spirit of ’76.
Ethel provided loving and firm guidance and expected her offspring to use proper etiquette, table manners and grammar. She corrected her grandchildren many times on the correct usage of pronouns (e.g., She is older than “I”.) and to be sure to not hit the side of the glass with the spoon when stirring iced tea. She also stressed fiscal responsibility and stated that 10% of every dollar earned should be saved and most importantly, one must “live within your means”. She earned a business secretary degree at Akron Business School in 1939. Her career began as a medical records transcriptionist, but she found her calling in banking. For 26 years, she was the secretary to the President of the First National Bank in Harlingen -- her crowning achievement was being selected Secretary of the Year in 1958.
Ethel loved to bake – her signature favorites included Forty-niners, Italian Cream, Texas Sheath and Mandarin Orange Cake. If you stopped by for a visit, she always put on a fresh pot of coffee and would offer you something sweet to eat.
She loved a party; any occasion counted. Just say the word and she
would whip out one of her famous casseroles and could feed a crowd with a casserole, tossed salad and a bundt cake – all served on her prized china, her mother’s Desert Rose pattern.
A woman before her time, Ethel implored her nieces, daughter and granddaughters to get their college degree so that they would always be self-sufficient and not have to depend “on a man” to support them.
In 1962, Ethel married Al Broman, “Pops”, the love of her life. Their marriage was punctuated with laughter, bowling, bridge foursomes, Friday night dates and calling each other “Honey” and “Gal”. Just prior to his retirement, they attended night school together to become certified as licensed real estate broker and agent. It is with full, happy hearts that we can find comfort knowing that they are now reunited. So, as Mommies would say, “Let’s be happy!”
Ethel is survived by her sister, Ankie Cantwell , daughter, Jennifer Mabry, granddaughters Joan Santa Maria (Michael), Gina Soddy, and grandson, John McDonald (Kay). Ethel dearly loved her 11 great grandchildren and 2 great great grandchildren. Ethel was pre-deceased by husband, Al Broman, grandson, Jeff McDonald, sisters, Yvonne, Eunice and Louise and brothers, Pete and Buddy.
A celebration of Ethel’s life will be held at Wesley United Methodist Church at 11:00 am on Friday, September 25. Afterwards, friends are invited to join the family at a luncheon (including dessert and coffee!) in the Charter Hall where we will visit and share fun memories of an extraordinary woman who touched so many lives. Private interment at Mont Meta Memorial Park in San Benito, Texas.
Those desiring to do so may make donations to Wesley United Methodist Church or charity of choice.
Please send sympathy cards to the Ethel Woolam Broman Family, in care of Buck Ashcraft Funeral Home, 710 Ed Carey Dr., Harlingen, Texas 78550.
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