Alma Edith Broderick, age 96, a resident of the Collington Life Care Community, Mitchellville, Maryland, passed away peacefully on October 7, 2015. She lived her life filled with love and dedication to her family, devotion to her Roman Catholic faith, and kindness to all that came across her path.
Alma was born on May 8, 1919 to Jacob and Anna Catherine Marking Wasserburger at the family ranch home in Montrose, Nebraska. She was the youngest of twelve children, and was affectionately known as “Baby Alma”. After completing her primary education at the one-room Montrose Elementary School, Alma graduated in 1936 from the Sioux County High School in Harrison, Nebraska. Upon graduation, Alma was offered employment at the Sioux County Court House. Despite her mother’s insistence that she should “take that job”, Alma declined the offer, and stayed on the family ranch to assist her mother with household duties.
Alma met James Robert Broderick in the summer of 1936. Jim, a native of Harrison, Nebraska, was employed as a Registered Nurse at Bloomingdale Hospital in New York State. He spent his summer vacations in Nebraska, and first encountered Alma at a Saturday night dance. Two of Alma’s older sisters were also at this dance, and they had attended high school with Jim. The next morning they told their mother in the ranch house kitchen, “James Broderick was in town. He danced with all of us, but he danced an awful lot with Alma”. Their mother replied, “oh really”. This began Alma and Jim’s four year courtship, consisting of frequent letters, Jim’s summer visits, lovely gifts, and Fanny Farmer Candy on every holiday. A highlight of one of Alma’s letters to Jim stated she “assisted her father and brother in vaccinating twenty-five head of cattle”. Such rural topics did not deter Jim’s pursuit of Alma’s love. It only strengthened his belief that if times got tough, Alma would be standing beside him to lend a hand.
Jim and Alma were married on June 10, 1940 at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Montrose, Nebraska. Their life journey together then swept them off to the east coast where they were blessed to spend sixty-four years creating many magical moments and everlasting memories. This included raising three children at their home in the Skyline Subdivision of Suitland, Maryland, and enjoying twenty-four years of retirement in Florida. James R. Broderick was born on July 11, 1914, and passed away at age 90 in Sun City Center, Florida on June 7, 2005. While living on the east coast, Jim and Alma never forgot their western roots. They regularly returned to Nebraska and surrounding states to visit family and friends.
Alma is preceded in death by her father and mother, husband, and eleven brothers and sisters: Henry (Anna), John (Katherine), Katherine (W. R. Baker), Barbara (H. J. “Bill” Stanley), Clara (Harry Sherrick), Rose (Charles “Chick” Oschger), Helen (Lloyd Shackelford), Gertrude (Charles F. Kirkham), Hilda (Henry “Hank” Barrett), Martilda (E. J. “Jim” Serres), and George (Beatrice).
Fond remembrance of Alma and her husband Jim will be retained by surviving family members: eldest son, James D., his wife Glenna R., their two children Jennifer L. and James P., and James P.’s daughter Kaitlyn M. Schiffman; their daughter Karen A. Yowler and her husband Robert C.; and youngest son Daniel C., his wife Sharon L., their two children Daniel J. and Lauren M. Hill, and Lauren’s husband Christopher G. Hill; and many nieces, nephews, and friends met throughout their life journey.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that we lend a hand to those in need.