Obituary for Louis Brood
Louis Brood of Mount Laurel, NJ passed away at home on February 1, 2021, surrounded by his loving family with the song “Danny Boy” playing and a kitty curled against him. Lou lived his entire life in devotion to his family. He was the perfect example of a human - a man who walked the walk with pure unconditional love and tenderness. He made every aspect of life seem wondrous. He was the kind of man who would literally take off his shirt and give it to you if he thought it would make you happy. And when we say “you,” we mean YOU - he took everyone he met into his heart. He would do anything for anyone, and he would do it with such love, pride, and tenderness, it would make your heart ache. He had an infinite capacity for love. He was selfless, eternally generous, compassionate, gracious, and exquisitely tender. He embodied a goodness that could bring you to your knees. He worshipped in the church of the heart. Praise and gratitude were his prayers. He would go to the ends of the earth to comfort you. He loved so fiercely and wholly and richly.
Lou and his wife Nancy met and fell in love at first sight in the 1970s and spent the remainder of their lives together in utter devotion to each other. Life gifted them with three children, and whenever anyone would ask Lou about his family, his face would light up and he would say, “They are my life.” His commitment to his family was immeasurable.
A beautiful piece of music could move Lou to tears. He believed in music as a universal language. He nurtured this truth in his children through the soft lullabies he sang every night. Even in the last years of his life, he sang every single day. He was a self-taught pianist and accordion player with musical tastes ranging from Andrea Bocelli to Errol Garner to Michael Franti & Spearhead.
He was the personification of playfulness - he could turn a mundane act like answering the telephone into a moment of delight, greeting a caller with a silly accent, “Brood Mansion, this is the butler speaking!” He was always smiling, giggling, laughing, and creating awe and wonder. His home was his pride, his paradise, and the hearth of his life.
Lou poured his heart and soul into his family’s upholstery shop on Fabric Row in Philadelphia working six days a week alongside his father and brother to nurture the family business. He brought his brilliance to his work and home lives as an architect, an engineer, a builder, a designer, a chef, a counselor, an artist, and a craftsman of the heart. He handmade his children’s Halloween costumes. He drafted architectural plans. He disassembled and reassembled appliances. He comforted aching hearts. He could do anything. He made everything and everyone better.
Lou was a passionate and gifted fisherman - he loved to “commune with nature,” and the sea was a place of healing and restoration for him. He had a magical way of luring the fish to his line, but he never wanted the glory of the catch. Anytime he felt that familiar tug, he would pass his rod to one of his children to reel in while standing by with a net and a bounty of encouragement and pride. It was the greatest joy of his life to share this love with his children and grandchildren. His joy was exponential.
Lou was predeceased by his parents Alec & Sara, his brother Sam, his sister-in-law Nataline, and by the love of his life Nancy. He is survived by his children Elizabeth, Kathryn, and Garrett, son-in-laws Casey and JP, grandson Louis, granddaughters Natalie and Nora, brother Hy (Janice), sister Fay (Sheldon), his beloved caregiver of 4.5 years Theresa “Paulette” Lane, as well as nieces, nephews, and so many others he adopted into his heart. We will spend the remainder of our lives living to make him proud. His love is our light in the dark, our North Star, our home.
Lou wished to be cremated and scattered at sea. His family will honor his wish this summer in the seas off Cape May, NJ. In lieu of flowers and other gifts, if you feel so moved, please make donations to Lou’s Ever Loved site where we will be collecting to provide respite support to families caring for loved ones touched by serious illnesses - https://everloved.com/life-of/louis-brood/.
Lou's family wishes to thank the incredibly devoted caregivers, aides, nurses, doctors, and social workers who made it possible to care for our beloved father (and mother) at home throughout the past decade. As Lou himself would have said, in that achingly tender voice of his, "Thank you. Thank you so much. Thank you. Thank you."
Lou and his wife Nancy met and fell in love at first sight in the 1970s and spent the remainder of their lives together in utter devotion to each other. Life gifted them with three children, and whenever anyone would ask Lou about his family, his face would light up and he would say, “They are my life.” His commitment to his family was immeasurable.
A beautiful piece of music could move Lou to tears. He believed in music as a universal language. He nurtured this truth in his children through the soft lullabies he sang every night. Even in the last years of his life, he sang every single day. He was a self-taught pianist and accordion player with musical tastes ranging from Andrea Bocelli to Errol Garner to Michael Franti & Spearhead.
He was the personification of playfulness - he could turn a mundane act like answering the telephone into a moment of delight, greeting a caller with a silly accent, “Brood Mansion, this is the butler speaking!” He was always smiling, giggling, laughing, and creating awe and wonder. His home was his pride, his paradise, and the hearth of his life.
Lou poured his heart and soul into his family’s upholstery shop on Fabric Row in Philadelphia working six days a week alongside his father and brother to nurture the family business. He brought his brilliance to his work and home lives as an architect, an engineer, a builder, a designer, a chef, a counselor, an artist, and a craftsman of the heart. He handmade his children’s Halloween costumes. He drafted architectural plans. He disassembled and reassembled appliances. He comforted aching hearts. He could do anything. He made everything and everyone better.
Lou was a passionate and gifted fisherman - he loved to “commune with nature,” and the sea was a place of healing and restoration for him. He had a magical way of luring the fish to his line, but he never wanted the glory of the catch. Anytime he felt that familiar tug, he would pass his rod to one of his children to reel in while standing by with a net and a bounty of encouragement and pride. It was the greatest joy of his life to share this love with his children and grandchildren. His joy was exponential.
Lou was predeceased by his parents Alec & Sara, his brother Sam, his sister-in-law Nataline, and by the love of his life Nancy. He is survived by his children Elizabeth, Kathryn, and Garrett, son-in-laws Casey and JP, grandson Louis, granddaughters Natalie and Nora, brother Hy (Janice), sister Fay (Sheldon), his beloved caregiver of 4.5 years Theresa “Paulette” Lane, as well as nieces, nephews, and so many others he adopted into his heart. We will spend the remainder of our lives living to make him proud. His love is our light in the dark, our North Star, our home.
Lou wished to be cremated and scattered at sea. His family will honor his wish this summer in the seas off Cape May, NJ. In lieu of flowers and other gifts, if you feel so moved, please make donations to Lou’s Ever Loved site where we will be collecting to provide respite support to families caring for loved ones touched by serious illnesses - https://everloved.com/life-of/louis-brood/.
Lou's family wishes to thank the incredibly devoted caregivers, aides, nurses, doctors, and social workers who made it possible to care for our beloved father (and mother) at home throughout the past decade. As Lou himself would have said, in that achingly tender voice of his, "Thank you. Thank you so much. Thank you. Thank you."