Written by Barbara Arnold
Kathy Brylski joined our Madison and Dane County Raging Grannies gaggle in 2019, just a few months before the COVID pandemic changed all our lives. Both before and after the worst of the pandemic, Kathy loved the Farmers’ Market on the square and the Fair Trade Holiday Festival. She was an integral part of our east side “ferry” car pool that almost always traveled together to rehearsals and often to gigs. Always an astute observer of what was happening around us, one night Kathy exclaimed, “Look up at the sky and enjoy that gorgeous moon.” We stopped to take in its beauty fully. During the pandemic we took bi-weekly walks: one week in the Arboretum; a second, in Olbrich Gardens. Kathy loved it all.
At her last gig with us on December 4, 2021, she relished shopping at the Fair Trade Festival for Christmas gifts, items to wear, and a new apron, then laughed with us during lunch at Paisan’s after we sang. Ten days later on December 14 she and her husband Mark were killed in a horrendous car accident. For four days there was no news in the media about people killed in the crash. However, the day after the tragedy I got a call from Kathy and Mark’s sons to let the grannies know what had happened and to ask if we would sing at the reception after the St. Dennis Catholic Church funeral service on December 21. Of course, our gaggle said yes; we were honored to be included in the event. Stephan and Anthony became very close to several of us. We have gone many times to see Anthony sing with Perfect Harmony Chorus; Kathy loved her sons and shared special moments with great pride.
With us less than two years she became a good friend to many grannies. She and granny Kathleen McQuade sang in the Monona Senior Chorus in addition to singing with the grannies. Especially those of us who got to know Kathy well, we miss her and will always remember her love of life.