Olive (Brouker) Farrell , VRHS Class of 1948
Olive F. Brouker Farrell, 91 passed away Monday, February 14th, 2022 at The Eddy Memorial Geriatric Center in Troy, NY. Daughter of the late Jeannette (Barron) Brouker and Waldo E. Brouker, Olive was predeceased by her sisters June Brady and Marilyn "Bette" Sanderson, her daughter Paula Bradwell, and her grandson Bryan Bradwell. She is survived by daughter Candia Spencer, sons William (Carmella) Bradwell, Brian Bradwell, and grandchildren LeeAnn (Jason) Polzin, Olivia (Nicholas) Earley, Robin Spencer, Katelyn Bradwell, Ophelia Gregory, Destin Bradwell, and several great-grandchildren, nieces, and nephews. Ollie was a prolific painter of landscapes and florals. She loved painting them and sharing them. She completed most under the name Olive Bradwell from her first husband Bill, many as Olive Becker from her 2nd husband Harry, and more as Olive Farrell from her 3rd, Hugh. Olive was an adventurous spirit who loved travel and enjoyed her time spent living in many places including various Rensselaer county homes, Bonita Springs FL, Pensacola FL, Honolulu HI, and Dallas TX, but her favorite was time spent in her home known as the Red Shutter Gallery in Cossayuna, NY, which she shared with Harry Becker who she described as the love of her life. Most of her landscapes are from this period, and of these rural scenes from Washington county. In addition to her artistic gifts, Olive had a love for and a keen sense of math. This passion led to careers that included Real Estate licenses in 2 states, a Fiscal Officer at Antioch University, an investment advisor with a Securities license, a bookkeeper for a number of companies as well as a volunteer for many years as an Income Tax preparer. The family would like to acknowledge the TLC provided by the staff of the Courtyard Unit at The Eddy. Denise and her staff members cared for Olive with kindness and compassion. Theirs is a very difficult job and they are deeply appreciated. Olive was smart, adventurous, congenial, independent and strong willed. She was taken by Alzheimer's disease, but not on February 14, 2022. Alzheimer's disease stole Olive's life many years before this. She fought it with her entire being, writing names and notes on every photo, in every margin of every book she read, anything so that she would not forget. And still, she did. There was no stopping the tragic march as Alzheimer's trampled memory after memory after memory, until Olive did not remember who Olive had been.