Laurinda (Lourenco) Bradford

Laurinda Bradford (nee: da Conceiçao Lourenço) passed away peacefully on April 9th at Allendale Senior Living, surrounded by her loved ones and devoted caregivers. She was 100 years old.

Born in Piódão, Portugal in 1925, Laurinda was the youngest child of Manuel and Maria José Lourenço. By the age of twelve, Laurinda lived in Lisbon with her sister, Palmira, where she then attended a Catholic convent. In 1948, Laurinda married our father, Guy Bradford, a WWII British Royal Airforce serviceman. They lived in England, Canada, Michigan and Ohio, before moving to Ridgewood, New Jersey in the 1960s where they stayed to raise their family.

Our mother’s unconditional love was extremely deep and strong. Her caring devotion as a mother was the essence of her life. Our parents came to the United States in the early 1950s with two young children. Our mother’s fortitude and perseverance were evident as she learned the English language, learned to drive a car and earned a high school equivalency degree from the Ridgewood High School night program, while raising five children was commendable. While caring and keeping her family, she pursued her own dreams for a better education, a better life and encouraged American Dream opportunities to her children. All this was paramount in her life.

Laurinda is survived by her five beloved children: Anne Maria da Conceiçao Bradford, François Guy Bradford (Nina), Bernard Alec Bradford (Gail), Kim Lowther Bradford and Carol Maria José Bradford Abruzzo.

Laurinda delighted in being a grandmother to nine grandchildren: Adam Guy Bradford (Mackenzie), Lindsay Marie Alexis Bradford (Timothy), Katherine Jean Worrell (Allen), Michael James Bradford (Amber), Christopher Bradford (Christopher Gale), Scott Michael Bradford, Christina Abruzzo Finizio (Anthony), Kimberly Anne Abruzzo (Matthew) and Joseph Francis Abruzzo, III (Serena). She cherished her five great-grandchildren: Aidan James Worrell, Lillian Rose Worrell, Charlotte Jean Worrell,  Benjamin James Worrell, Adriana Kimberly Finizio and Anthony Raffaele Finizio.

Our mother’s beautiful Portuguese voice will be dearly missed. Her love for her children is irreplaceable. She was a unique mother, a fun grandmother and a worrisome woman who took all our colds and upset tummies very seriously. She took pride in dressing up for her children’s big occasions, such as weddings, childbirths and baptisms. Her children and grandchildren all knew Laurinda was praying for them every day – and the comfort it gave all of us will never be forgotten.

Spending time beside Laurinda always left one with a little story to remember. Mostly, her warmth, her hands, her kisses, her waves, her questions, her advice and her quintessential charm. Rest peacefully with Our Lord dear mom. You so deservedly have a place up above.

Visitation will be held on Sunday from 2 PM - 4 PM at Van Emburgh-Sneider-Pernice Funeral Home, 109 Darlington Ave, Ramsey. A funeral mass will be celebrated on Monday, April 14, 2025 at 10 AM at St. Paul R.C. Church in Ramsey. Interment will follow at George Washington Memorial Park in Paramus. 

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