Laurrie Lynn Brady Lolly
February 7, 1952 – September 18, 2023
Laurrie Lynn Brady Lolly, 71, of Mechanicsville Virginia passed away peacefully in the arms of her beloved family on Monday, September 18, 2023, after a short battle with uterine cancer.
Laurrie is survived by her loving and devoted husband of 50 years, John Emilio Lolly. Of course, she is survived by many more .. we all know she was a loving and wonderful daughter, wife, mother, grandmother, and much more. So let’s get down to what’s at the heart of it.
Laurrie was the kind of mom that made the ordinary extraordinary. She taught us to see the beauty of the every day. The exquisite joy of a belly laugh. The contentment of that 30-second pause to appreciate the warm glow of the setting sun. She taught us that time is the most valuable resource. She loved us hard. Without hesitation. Always with a yes, yes I’ll watch the kids, yes I’ll go on the trip or the concert or the walk …yes let’s plan a party, but most of all she loved her John. Best friends, soulmates, and partners in crime. They faced adversity side by side and they never went to bed angry. By loving us they taught us how to love each other. She was a helper. The first to step in no matter the crisis, no matter the person, no matter the situation. She cared for people with grace and compassion. She had about 30 hobbies throughout her lifetime. from balloon animals to baking bread and teaching cooking school to growing…ahem …” plants”. She loved to laugh and had the best sense of humor.
When we asked her how she wanted to handle her afterlife arrangements she said “Burn me up! I don’t care about the rest.”
She was incredibly kind. And smart. There’s a quote by the Avett Brothers in a song called Life that I listened to today. “Watch us fly as loud as we can, let her heartbeat change what I am now. “
She taught us to fly. She taught us to live. She taught us to love each other and help each other. It was her heartbeat that made us what we are now. And always.
Love
Grammie was the definition of unexpected because she always just seemed to be a kind old, young, or middle-aged lady. She was polite enough when you first met her and then she could always break the ice with a good cuss word and then she would get a laugh out of you, and if you didn’t laugh, if you instead acted incredulous…well then you just weren’t her kind of person.
She could be blunt when she needed to, she could be a quiet, wallflower-like observer too though. She was beautiful no matter what she was. She was a teacher and if you knew her well, she would teach you the best of things.
Every part I love about myself is something that she helped create within me. She lives inside of all of us. None of us could ever forget her, because all of the little, forgettable idiosyncrasies are things that have been instilled into all of the people that loved her.
She was our 10.
-Jules Guthrie
Love again mwah
-Brady
My Laurrie I loved you so much I will always love you forever I will miss you every day for the rest of my life you were the best person and friend I ever had ❤️❤️❤️
So sorry prayers with the family?????
Jackie and family, my love and prayers are with you at this most difficult time..
I am so sorry to hear about your wife passing away John. Sending prayers for you and all the family.
My deepest condolences ? to you all. My heart breaks but also full of all the wonderful memories of the Mary’s and the Lolly’s. Over the decades. You will be deeply missed but in our hearts forever ❤️❤️
Oh John, we are so sorry to hear this. We just reconnected after all these years. We have such great memories from the old J&L days when we would get together at each others house when our kids were little. May you find peace and comfort in the memories you have and the love you shared . Our prayers are with you, Jackie, Timmy and extended family
John. My heartfelt condolences to you. I hope you find some joy in knowing the great life you two had together. Take care my old friend.
Our sincere condolences to your entire beautiful family. If there is anything at all we can do please let us know. Love yall
When I think of Laurrie, I think of moments. Moments that she had a way of making memorable whether by way of a hilarious comment, complete silence or solid advice that always started and ended with “you deserve to be happy and you should do what is right for you and anyone who ain’t on board with that can go……..(well you know the rest)!” But I especially think about the moments she gave us in her photography.
There are so many moments that if you blink you will miss them but Laurrie had this ability to capture them in a picture like no one else preserving them forever. The glance of a brother or sister to their sibling when no one is watching and the love that they are showing in that second can be felt with that one click of Laurrie’s camera. She always caught the moments and expressions like this that the rest of us didn’t even see .
I will forever appreciate this and all the other gifts Laurrie bestowed upon us.
Love you so much!!! Wendy
I am so sorry to hear this! My heartfelt sympathies to John and all of the family??
She was such a beautiful co-worker at Dagwoods. Haven’t seen her in a while but still say she was the best,
John, Jackie & Timmy (+ extended family) I’m so sorry to hear about Laurrie. I have so many memories of all of you growing up. John… you and Laurrie complemented each other so well and always had me laughing. Sending you all hugs and prayers. ??❤️
John and family, our deepest sympathies. Laurie was a wonderful person with a kind heart. Lots of love and prayers.
John and family. Our thoughts are with you at this difficult time.
I hope to see you and give you a hug.
I’m so grateful the Marry/Lolly paths crossed about 40 years ago, the memories will be cherished. Laurrie was one of the best for sure! I’m so very sorry for your loss and will continue to lift you up in our prayers. Big love to you all.
I feel lucky to have met Laurrie through Southern Seasons. I enjoyed the times we dined in RVA and when she hosted a potluck at her home. I am sad she has passed and will lift the family up. She will be missed.
I was so sorry to hear the news today. Laurrie was so fun to work with. I met her when she volunteered and also taught bread making classes at Southern Season. She surprised me one day when I was in the bread section at Kroger by coming up behind me and saying, “all this bread sucks”! When I turned to see who it was, she was standing there with that twinkle in her eye and wide grin.
We were all better from knowing her.
Sending love and strength to John and family.
I met Laurie through Southern Seasons and loved her warm smile and contagious laugh. Watching Laurie and John together was delightful. It was always evident how much love they shared. Prayers for the family on the loss of this very special person!
Loved volunteering at Southern Season cooking school with Laurrie!! The world was a better place with her in it. Praying for the family.
What a beautiful tribute to an extremely beautiful woman! She was so full of life, love, and laughter! So many laughs our Mary and Lolly families shared together. You guys were an extension of our family, and we are praying for you all to feel peace and comfort right now. I’m sure Daddy is giving her a big welcome home hug!
Laurrie! My dear first cousin, fantastic daughter of my Fathers only sister Aunt Betty. Laurrie showed me a lifetime of complete kindness , and, I was a handful, she would not be rattled by my antics! Thanks to our parents example we did our best to participate in each others lives, across the miles!
I will admit social media helped a lot! Just last winter upon my retirement I got to spend some treasured time with Laurrie and John at their home, it was one of the best times of my life, the hospitality will never be forgotten! Laurrie I will miss our conversations! Until we meet again. Love always Cuz ! David
John, So Sorry for your loss, prayers for you and your family.
We are very sorry for your loss. Our prayers go out to you and your family. Heaven has taken a gentle soul and added another to their angels.
John and family, I am terribly sorry to hear of Laurrie’s passing. It has been far too many years, but I can hear her voice and see her smile in my head as clear as day. Such a sweet lady and what a character! One more Guardian Angel in heaven yet one less on earth. Peace be with you always.
Laurrie was such a wonderful person! I met her at Southern Seasons and loved working with her. She always had a generous smile and could make us all laugh. She was a wonderful bread maker, and inspired me in my own bread making adventures. Laurrie was so generous, was an excellent seamstress, and I love the purse and keychain I own that she made . I will miss her very much. Love and prayers to John and to the whole family.
John my heart condolences to you sorry to hear of Laurie passing she was a special person a great mother and your life partner wish you peace and love
Laurrie was one of a kind, glad I had the great fortune to have met when she started volunteering at Southern Season, I recognized someone who had something to give. Several bread classes made her and her family part of our family. Laurrie was the person who never met a stranger!
Deepest sympathy for the family and all of her friends.
We are so sorry for your loss. We didn’t know her well but she always shared a welcome smile and comment when we saw her. Enjoy the fond memories of all the good times with her. Those memories will last forever.
I’m so sorry for the whole family’s loss. You can’t think of Laurie without smiling.
John, I was a childhood friend of Laurrie’s from South Heights. We just recently reconnected on Facebook over the last couple of years, and I was so glad for it. Laurrie was always a character when we were young, and from what I’ve been reading about her, I can tell that didn’t change. I always remember her as being fearless, and I so envied her confidence. She offered me much comfort over the last year and a half, after I lost my husband, and now I offer that same wish for comfort and peace to you in the wake of her passing. I did not believe she was gone until I saw the proof in this obituary. She never let on that anything was wrong, so it was quite a shock. Love and prayers to you and your family during this very difficult time John. I will always remember my friend Laurrie.
We are very sorry for your loss John, Jackie (Brian), Jules, Brady, Tim (and family). Your mum was one of a kind and definitely never met a stranger. She could always make you feel welcome.