Virginia Stryker "Ginny" Brodeen

Virginia "Ginny" Stryker Brodeen passed away on March 29, 2024 surrounded by her adoring family. Ginny entered the world to great fanfare on March 7, 1953 in St. Paul, Minnesota to Barbara and Charles Stryker. As a child and teenager, Ginny made friendships that lasted her entire life. She made friends easily and treasured each friendship. Through those friendships, Ginny met her husband of more than 46 years, Rawley Brodeen.

Rawley and Ginny had many adventures and loved each other deeply. Together they lovingly raised three daughters, Patty Brodeen Maher (Mike), Lizzie Brodeen-Kuo (Sid), and Katie Stryker Brodeen Routh (Gabe). Ginny instilled her love of learning, art, family, nature, and community in her daughters who will carry her many lessons with them.

Ginny was a talented artist who loved painting and photography. She could spend hours in her studio working on a piece or wandering around a garden taking photos. Visiting museums to see art always brought Ginny great joy, but she did not need a museum, she saw art everywhere: a beautiful sunset, a seashell, or a basket of tomatoes.

Ginny served her community in big and small ways. She worked for St. Paul Public Libraries as an Outreach Librarian and felt passionate about serving patrons at Lexington and Rondo libraries. Ginny loved the library and believed in the public library's power to change lives. She firmly believed that "Everyone should have what they need" and libraries were a key to that belief. In recent years, Ginny started handing out buttons to anyone she met reading "LOVE" because she wanted everyone to feel love and share that love with people around them. Everyone who knew Ginny knew they were loved by her. She was generous and constant with telling people how much she adored them, especially her family and her many friends.

One of Ginny's favorite roles in her life was being Nana to her six grandchildren, Will, James, Eddie, Max, Amelia, and Malcolm. Every time she saw or talked to one of her grandchildren, she absolutely lit up. She spent time with each of them in her art studio, joyfully making huge messes - "Well that is art!" she would happily exclaim. She loved her grandchildren fiercely and ecstatically.

Ginny is survived by her husband, daughters, sons-in-law, grandchildren, siblings, many lifelong friends, and many new friends. Her family extends special thanks to the Cancer Care team at St. John's for providing her guidance, support, and friendship in the final chapters of her life. Ginny's family will host a celebration of life on May 4, 2024. In lieu of flowers or memorials, please consider a donation to your local public library in honor of Ginny.

Ginny loved life. She lived with an abundance of joy and gratitude. In memory of Ginny and to carry on her legacy, her family asks that people devote their lives to love. She was simply the best.