Phelba "Bobbi" Lorraine Enevold Braff

Braff, Phelba Lorraine, Bobbi (Enevold), age 94, of La Mirada, California passed away Monday, September 10, 2018 in La Mirada, California. Born to Lillian Stovern Enevold and Peter Enevold on October 14, 1923 in Egeland, North Dakota. She grew up on a farm in McIntosh, Minnesota. She was a 1941 graduate of Duluth Central High School in Duluth, Minnesota, and received her B.S. in Public Health Nursing from the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis in 1947. During World War II, she served as a U.S. Army Cadet Nurse.

Married to the love of her life, Wallace Richard Braff, on September 18, 1947 at Salem Lutheran Church in Minneapolis, Minnesota. After brief stays in Chicago, Illinois, and Houston, Texas, Wally and Bobbi settled in La Mirada, California in 1955, where they raised their family. They were founding members of the United Presbyterian Church of La Mirada, and Bobbi remained a faithful member of the church for over 60 years, serving in the choir, Mariners Couples group, and various other activities and church positions. Music was always her passion, starting in high school as an oboe player in the band, and continuing in adult life in many groups, including the church chancel and bell choirs, Buena Park Community Chorus, Rio Hondo Chorus, William Locke Singers, The Sweet Adelines, The Misties folk group, and volunteer singing community groups the Tones and the Melodears, as well as performing in many other trios and barbershop quartets. She was an active volunteer in La Mirada, devoting time as an usher at the La Mirada Theater for the Performing Arts, serving at election voting polls, and assorted other endeavors, earning a Very Special Person award from the City of La Mirada for volunteerism.

She worked as a Registered Nurse in Minnesota, Illinois, and California, taking time off to raise her children. She cared for many, as a Visiting Community Health Nurse in Minneapolis, Childrens Memorial Hospital in Chicago, U.S. Public Health Service in Los Angeles, Orthopaedic Hospital in Los Angeles, Pico Rivera Community Hospital, and Beverly Hospital in Whittier.

Bobbis talents were many. She was an accomplished singer and pianist, had a great sense of fashion, always stylishly coordinated and put together, and enjoyed gardening and the crafts of tatting and paper-cutting, She loved Crossword and Word Search puzzles, wearing her trademark pencil over her ear constantly. Her holiday spirit was legendary, creatively decorating for and celebrating every season. Bobbi loved playing board games with family and was a Yahtzee champion, as well as being an avid fan of TVs game shows Concentration, Wheel of Fortune, Jeopardy and Family Feud. She was a beloved daughter, wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother and friend, who loved to entertain and to plan and host special events, especially reunions of every type. She was also a sports fan extraordinaire, whether golfing, league bowling, cheering for her kids and grandkids games or enthusiastically rooting for her favorite teams of Dodgers, Angels, Lakers and Rams. She enjoyed traveling with her family throughout the United States, and was elated to be able to make a trip to her ancestral homeland of Norway and Sweden. Bobbi collected cat figurines, Nordic artifacts and music-related items, and took pleasure in presenting travel souvenirs to family members after each trip, especially refrigerator magnets. She loved all animals and always had cats in her home. She was actively involved in her childrens and grandchildrens lives, supporting every function and activity she could possibly attend. She loved taking photographs and memorialized every occasion and visit with pictures. Every family member enjoyed her singing Happy Birthday telephone message and taking back-to-back height photos each year.

Preceded in death by her parents, Lillian and Peter, her sister Hester, her stepfather, Donald Peterson and her loving husband of 44 years, Wally. She is survived by her daughter Barbi (John) Townsend, her daughter Diane (Ron) Hellerstedt, and son Roger (Diane) Braff; eight grandchildren: Ricky and Benny Townsend; Tracie, Kristi (Geoff Bales) and Holly Hellerstedt; Zach (Jessica), Tim, and Kailey Braff; and one great grandson, Beau Braff; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, October 3, 2018 at Community Presbyterian Church, 13701 Hillsborough Dr., La Mirada, with Reverend Jason Ko officiating. Burial will immediately follow at Olive Lawn Cemetery, 13926 La Mirada Blvd., La Mirada, and reception will follow interment at La Mirada Golf Club, 15501 Alicante Rd., La Mirada. The family will receive visitors for a viewing from 4:00 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, October 2, 2018 at Community Presbyterian Church, 13701 Hillsborough Dr., La Mirada.

The family would like to express their deep gratitude for the help and care provided over the years by the following dedicated caregivers: Julie Sandoval, Lucia Gomez, Jackie Estopellan, Michelle Darnell, and Rosie and Bill Kahn. Special love and heartfelt thanks go to Julie Sandoval, who took care of her Missy with love and devotion for the last seven challenging years. Bobbi was able to face her 2010 diagnosis of Alzheimers dementia with grace, courage and dignity. With the support and love of God, her family and caregivers, she fought fiercely to overcome the limitations of this debilitating disease. She became known as the Energizer Bunny for rallying back many times from increasing medical challenges. Despite losing the ability to walk and talk, her sweet demeanor and beautiful smile remained intact, up until the time she went to her heavenly home.

If desired, memorial donations may be made in her name to the Orange County Alzheimers Association, 770 The City Drive South, Suite 7400, Orange, CA 92868; https://alz.org/oc

Condolences may be sent to the family through White Emerson Mortuary.