Obituaries

Mary Wilhelmina Braun

Photo of Mary Wilhelmina Braun
Mary Wilhelmina Braun, 88, of Springdale passed away Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2014, at Shiloh Health and Rehab. Born Sept. 13, 1925, in Springdale to Percy and Josephine Berry Braun. Mary was preceded in death by her parents; two brothers, Rafael Braun and Josef "Buddy" Braun. Mary was the youngest of the three children. She became an accomplished pianist and harpist. She followed her mother's footsteps as a music teacher and began giving piano lessons while in her teens. In 1948, Mary was a featured performer at a Christmas party hosted by the Springdale Women's Civic Club. In the audience was Roberta Fulbright, publisher of the Northwest Arkansas Times. Afterwards, Fulbright wrote in her editorial column, "High on the program was Mary Braun, harpist, daughter of Mrs. Percy Braun and the late Percy Braun, who concluded her playing with 'Silent Night' so beautifully that the very essence of Christmas spirit was left in our souls." Mary studied under the French-born Carlos Salzedo, a virtuoso harpist and composer who was the first harpist for the Metropolitan Opera and founder of the Summer Harp Colony of America in Camden, Maine. She continued to give piano lessons at the Berry-Braun home into the 1980s, currently The Magnolia Gardens Inn. In the early 1900s Millard Berry served as Springdale mayor and Washington County judge, spearheading the construction of the historic Washington County Courthouse in Fayetteville. Percy Braun was a Springdale pharmacist and founder of the Northwest Arkansas Symphony. In the past several years, many of the family heirlooms have been donated to the Shiloh Museum. Mary was a member of St. Raphael Catholic Church in Springdale. Graveside services will be Friday, Sept. 12, 2014, at 10 a.m. at Bluff Cemetery in Springdale, with Father John Connell officiating. Visitation will be Thursday from 4 to 6 p.m. at Sisco Funeral Chapel of Springdale. A rosary will follow at 6 p.m. Memorials may be made to Circle of Life Hospice, 901 Jones Road, Springdale, AR 72762; or St. Raphael Catholic Church, 1386 S. West End St., Springdale, AR 72764. Online condolences may be left at www.siscofuneral.com.

Published September 11, 2014

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