Obituary of Ella Packer Braddock

Obituary for Ella Packer Braddock (nee McCulley) Ella Packer Braddock (nee McCulley) went to her heavenly home March 24, 2021, after spending most of her 95 years in Berlin, New Jersey. She lived in Newton, Kansas her last three months on earth. Ella was born September 12, 1925 at her home in Berlin to parents Samuel and Beulah McCulley. She was the third of four children, with older brothers Samuel and Harold (died 1924), and younger brother John. Growing up Ella thoroughly enjoyed the farm life of her family and immediate community. Her joy was visiting her grandmother and relatives nearby, doing all the canning by the time she was twelve, and joining her father and brothers in the field work. She loved driving the tractor and was known, on occasion, to inadvertently knock down a post or two along the way. All this set the stage for the many delicious holiday family dinners she hosted featuring turkeys weighing at least 35 pounds along with many homemade cakes and pies. She attended Berlin Borough School and graduated from Haddon Heights High School. She found the love of her life in Warren Spencer Braddock, who lived on the neighboring farm. They were wed June 29, 1946 after Warren returned from service in WWII. The couple took great pleasure in raising their four daughters - Evelyn (died 1954), Janice, Linda, and Carole. Ella and Warren enjoyed 42 years of marriage together. Warren passed to glory in 1989 leaving Ella with many happy memories that she was ready to share with anyone who would listen. Ella loved the Lord and was a life-long member of Berlin Baptist Church. She lived her faith by service as Director of the Elementary School Department where many Berlin children were introduced to a life of faith in Jesus Christ as the Son of God. Ella also served as Trustee, and as committee members of the Living Memorial Committee, Nominating Committee, and 125th Anniversary Committee in 1999. Ella’s hands were never idle. She delighted in homemaking and was a talented seamstress making many outfits for her daughters and beautiful gowns for special occasions. Ella developed a passion for tracing her family history and through her determined work in genealogy she discovered and connected with living relatives in Switzerland. One of her most cherished memories is the trip she made to Switzerland with her daughters to visit these relatives in 2001. Always ready for adventure, Ella was an enthusiastic participant in hang gliding, hot air ballooning and riding in a helicopter. She was an avid traveler as her numerous photo albums attest with pictures of trips she took with family and treasured friends. Ella and Warren’s house was a constant hub of family, friend, and neighborhood connections. An active member of the community, Ella was a member of the Long-A-Coming Historical Society and Daughters of the American Revolution. Ella was preceded in death by her parents Samuel and Beulah, husband Warren, daughter Evelyn, and brothers Samuel, Harold, and John. She is survived by daughters Janice McNee (Gerald) of Midlothian, VA; Linda Stepler of Dallas, TX; Carole Stevens (David) of Sedgwick, KS; six grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews, all of whom she loved dearly. Ella will be deeply missed. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be contributed to the Berlin Baptist Church Memorial Fund, 90 E. Broad Street, Berlin, NJ 08009. A graveside service will be held at 10 am, Tuesday April 6th, 2021 at Berlin Cemetery, Berlin, New Jersey.