Barbara Joyce Brady
Barbara Joyce Brady (née Gillies), of Farmingdale, N.Y., beloved daughter of Nancy Gillies and the late John E. Gillies, died peacefully on Sunday, Sept. 6, 2026.
Barbara will be remembered for her elegance and dignity, her empathetic heart, sharp intelligence and quiet wisdom, her wry humor and playful wit. Her children loved the sense of wonder she imbued in them. Her calm demeanor belied a steely strength; she was steadfastly devoted to her faith, family and friends.
Barbara played the piano, loved the East End of Long Island, and was a voracious reader. Her parents and eight siblings summered on Leeton Drive in Southold in her teen years. Nancy and Jack rented on Nassau Point for two years in the early 1970s and purchased their summer home in Nassau Point in 1974. Barbara and her growing family spent time every summer at Tolendal until it was sold in 1998.
Barbara and her children, their spouses, and eventually her grandchildren, loved to go to the “Little Beach,” as she and her grandchildren called New Suffolk Beach.
Barbara worked in her father’s law firm, obtained her paralegal degree, and worked in other firms before working for numerous not-for-profits, until her retirement from Catholic Charities.
Barbara was a passionate advocate for children. She joined the Farmingdale PTA in 1974, and served in many leadership roles. She spearheaded the Farmingdale CARE program, a non-profit organization that provides before- and after-school care, and remained involved long after her own children had graduated from Farmingdale Schools.
Barbara greatly enjoyed spending time giving back to her community. She was a member of the Women’s Club of Farmingdale, went door-to-door collecting donations for the American Cancer Society, and participated in fundraising events for the March of Dimes and United Way.
Barbara was devoted to her home parish of St. Kilian in Farmingdale. She served on the committee to rebuild the 100-year-old church, and was instrumental in making sure the historic character of the church she grew up in was not lost in the process.
She is survived by her children: Jennifer Bruer (Kelly) of Southold, Sarah Brenner (Mark) of Huntington, Bryan Brady (Brooke) of Laurel; grandchildren Grace and Quinn Bruer, and Ella and Jack Brenner; her mother Nancy Gillies of Riverhead; as well as eight siblings, their spouses, and many cousins, nieces, nephews, grandnieces, and grandnephews. Her final resting place is in Cutchogue Cemetery.
Chapey & Sons Funeral & Cremation Care of Bethpage assisted the family.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Catholic Charities Regina Maternity Services Case Management Ministry.
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