Veronica "Roni" Bradford

Veronica “Roni” Bradford (March 20, 1955 - June 8, 2025)

Roni Bradford, semi-professional rabble-rouser and overindulgent Grammy extraordinaire, has set off on her final adventure to the great beyond, presumably to regale the host of ancestors, angels and/or invertebrates that she meets along the way with tales of the extraordinary talents of her brilliant grandbabies.

Born with a pair of scissors in one hand and a roll of duct tape in the other, Roni spent 70 years stitching and mending beautiful garments, broken hearts, world-class upholstery, fantastical Halloween costumes and all manner of childhood angsts and injuries. A master of what she called "creative problem-solving" (and what innocent bystanders may have identified as barely ordered chaos), Roni never met a challenge she didn't tackle with a cigarette in one hand and a Diet Mountain Dew in the other.

Roni’s deepest joy and proudest accomplishment came in the form of her two grandsons, Finn & Sean, who she lovingly spoiled with both her presence and her presents. These lucky little men were the light of her life and the realization of all her dreams. Her early recognition of their budding musical virtuoso, deep “intuitive” appreciation for theoretical physics, “obvious” mastery of language and clear natural aptitude for the fine arts will surely be proven out by the historical record.

Roni leaves behind a truly prodigious collection of snarky coasters, plaques and coffee mugs, a breathtaking array of food storage containers and unnumbered lives touched by her immense generosity, unconditional love and genuine warmth. She is preceded in death by her adoring husband Henry “Hank” Bradford, Jr., her parents Frank and Mabel Vierling, her beloved brother Bill Vierling and cherished nephews Dennis and Sean Valentine. Roni is survived by those vaunted grandsons, daughter Jennifer Bradford and her partner Eric Larimore, son Scott Bradford and daughter-in-love Ryan Jenkins Bradford, bonus sisters Amy Gorman and Rhonda Woodruff, several siblings and many much-loved nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you fix something that's broken, plan an adventure someplace new, or say something wildly inappropriate at the inopportune moment of your choosing. Donations may also be made to Siteman Cancer Center, MSC 1082-414-2555, 1 Brookings Drive., St. Louis, MO 63130 or online at siteman.wustl.edu/tribute.

Roni will be terribly missed by all who knew her. She was truly one of a kind. Problem solver, beachcomber, doting Grammy, and proof that each of us really can change our little corner of the world.