Gina Bradbury's Obituary
Gina Bradbury, 55, passed away peacefully at the family home in Lewes, Delaware, on May 19, 2026. She was born on June 27, 1970, in Trenton, New Jersey, the daughter of the late Frederick Degli-Umberti and Lyda Dechtiar Howell.
Gina spent her early years in Yardville, New Jersey and Columbia, Maryland, before moving to the Stratford Landing community in Fort Hunt, Virginia, where she attended Fort Hunt High School and Northern Virginia Community College. She built a successful career in marketing, contributing her talent and creativity to Michael Baker, Rhodeside &; Harwell, and Paciulli Simmons & Associates. Known for her professionalism, prolific writing skills, attention to detail, and ability to connect with people, she earned the respect of her colleagues.
Never one to limit herself to a single path, Gina later pursued her passion for food as a personal chef and eventually found her voice as a freelance journalist and researcher. Her work appeared in WhoWhatWhy, Salon, and Northern Virginia Magazine, where her thoughtful perspectives, meticulous research, and tenacity shone through each piece she wrote.
To know Gina was to love her. She was vibrant, personable, caring, selfless, and endlessly funny. She had a rare gift for bringing people together and making everyone feel welcome. She loved to cook and entertain, creating lasting memories around her table with the people she cherished. Gina was also a devoted mother who dearly loved her children, Alex and Grace. They could always count on her for comfort, warmth, and unwavering advocacy. Her pride in them was constant, and her love for them carries on after death.
She found joy in life’s simple pleasures. She loved gardening, spending time outdoors, and feeling the sand beneath her feet at Cape Henlopen State Park. The beach was her place of solitude and relief. Music also allowed her an outlet for expression. She loved jazz, old-school R&B, classic rock, and D.C. Go-Go.
She will be remembered for her generous heart, beautiful spirit, quick wit, and the joy she brought into the lives of many. In the meals she shared, the music she loved, and the calm of the ocean she cherished, Gina leaves behind a legacy of warmth, joy, and grace.
In addition to her parents, Gina was preceded in death by her grandparents, Ivan and Helen Karmasin, and her stepfather, Howard Howell. She is survived by her husband of 23 years, Gary Bradbury; her children, Alex and Grace Bradbury; her stepbrother, John Howell; her beloved cats, Hammy, Triangle, and Remy; and extended family and friends who will miss her dearly.
In lieu of flowers and in recognition of Gina's lifelong love of animals, donations may be made in her memory to Friends of Homeless Animals (https://FOHA.org)
A Celebration of Gina's life will be announced at a later date.
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