Edith Beatrice “Edie” O’Brien, age 94, passed away peacefully in Sylvania on September 13, 2021. Edie was born on August 8, 1927, to Albert Robert Lucarelli and Louise Josephine Lucarelli in Toledo. She graduated from Central Catholic High School in 1945. Shortly after graduation, Edie, along with her sister Rita and best friend Ruthie, started a bunco club with friends that lasted over 50 years. Ruthie was also instrumental in arranging a first date between Edie and her future husband… and it was love at first date! Edie and Francis “Fran” Joseph O’Brien were married at Rosary Cathedral on September 2, 1950. They moved to Sylvania a year later and lived in the same house for the rest of their lives, adding on rooms as the family grew. They were members of Saint Joseph’s Parish in Sylvania. Edie provided spiritual encouragement to the whole family; often seen filing into the length of an entire pew at church. She was proud of her Italian heritage and was a member of the Alba Club. Edie’s first job was at the Toledo Heath Department. Later, she supported her husband in starting BelMain Upholstering and once the kids got a little older, she helped Fran with “the books” and assisting customers. Even though she was 5’2” and 110 lbs., she became known as the “The Big E” at the upholstery shop after putting a large “E” on a stapler that kept disappearing from her desk. But her biggest job was raising eight kids! Edie loved birds and flower gardening. She would spend hours tending to her numerous flower gardens. She could often be found at the kitchen table with her morning coffee watching the birds in her gardens and at her many birdfeeders. Edie was an excellent cake decorator and made personalized cakes for almost every occasion. She was well known for her Christmas cookies, making hundreds of cookies in many different assortments for family and friends. In addition to her parents; she was preceded in death by her husband, Fran; daughter, Theresa Marie; and brother, Robert Lucarelli. She is survived by her sons, Tim (Valerie), Tod (Kelly), Thad (Kris), and Trace (Beckie); daughters, Terry (Chuck) Fetzek, Tina (Jim) Shaw, Trudy (Jeff) Champion, and Tam (John) Wheat; grandchildren, Chaz, Carrie, Stacie, Cassie, Christie, Eric, Scott, Alexandra, Mitchell, Amanda, Meghan, Collin, Lauren, Brooks, Forrest, Parker, Gracie, Kelsey, Connor, Molly, and Taylor; great-grandchildren, Logan, Lexi, Mya, Jackson, Evelynn, Jolynn, and Hazelle. She is also survived by her siblings, Rita Peters, Victor (Shirley) Lucarelli, Albert (Georgia) Lucarelli, and Tony (Ginny) Lucarelli. The family would like to express their heartfelt gratitude for the help and support provided by Debby, Edie’s loving and devoted caregiver of three years. They would also like to thank the staff at Otterbein Sunset Village and Hospice of Northwest Ohio. Visitation will be held at Reeb Funeral Home, 5712 N. Main St., Sylvania, on Fday, October 1st, 2021, from 3:00 - 8:00 p.m., where the Rosary will be recited at 7:30 p.m. The Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday at 11:00 a.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Sylvania. Entombment will follow at the Toledo Memorial.
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