Mary Hvostal was born in Czechoslovakia on March 3, 1921 to Andrew Hvostal (1899-1995) and Elizabeth Savka (1897-1975). The family, which included a son, John, born in 1919, emigrated to the United States from Hamburg, Germany on September 21, 1922.

In 1940, Mary Hvostal was a student nurse at St. Francis Hospital and resided at the Nurses' Residence. The record indicates that her home in 1935 was McKees Rocks, Allegheny County. She is also named in the 1940 census record of her family. Her parents, Andrew and Elizabeth Hvostal, both born in Czechoslovakia, lived on Frederick Street, McKees Rocks, and were Naturalized Citizens. Their children are listed as Albert, 13, Frank (Andrew Francis), 10, Anna, 7, and Mary, a nurse, 19.

Although her military record has not been found, she is named in a news article as a nurse from St. Francis who joined the military via the Red Cross during World War II.

She married Herbert Williamson Brasington.

HUSBAND'S OBITUARY: (Died January 11, 1997) - Brasington, Herbert W., 77, of Richmond, U.S. Army veteran of World War II, received the Silver Star for heroism and the Purple Heart with the Oak Leaf Cluster during the North African Campaign, retired sales representative for various building supply manufacturers, husband of Mary E. Brasington. -- Richmond Times-Dispatch (VA) - Monday, January 13, 1997

BROTHER'S OBITUARY: ALBERT P. HVOSTAL - Age 78, of Stowe Twp., on Friday, October 7, 2005. Beloved husband of Josephine K.; loving father of Daniel, Jeanne Schultz and Albert M. Hvostal; dear grandfather of Amanda, Jackie, Valerie and Amy; brother of John, Mary Brasington, Anne Vavrek and the late A. Frank Hvostal. Friends may call 2-4 & 7-9 pm Monday at the MCDERMOTT FUNERAL HOME, INC., 1225 Chartiers Ave., McKees Rocks (Family owned & operated since 1886). Mass of Christian Burial 10 am Tuesday, St. John of God Parish in St. Mary's Church. -- Published in Pittsburgh Post-Gazette from Oct. 9 to Oct. 10, 2005.

SON'S OBITUARY: Robert J. Brasington, 54, of Mechanicsville (VA), passed away on Friday, January 20, 2006. He is survived by his wife, Diane Fauth Brasington; daughter, Jessica Brasington Boyd and her husband, Jason; son, Andrew James Brasington; mother, Mary E. Brasington; sister, Mary Lou Thomas; and brother, Herbert W. Brasington Jr. and his wife, Kathy. Mr. Brasington was a graduate of St. Bridget's School, Benedictine High School and Virginia Commonwealth University. He was a senior software engineer and principal in the medical management software company, Clinicient, Inc., and was a Past Grand Knight of the Albert E. Chipman Council of the Knights of Columbus. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday, at the Bliley Funeral Homes' Central Chapel, 3801 Augusta Ave. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 12 noon Tuesday in the Catholic Church of the Redeemer, 8275 Meadowbridge Rd., Mechanicsville. Interment Signal Hill Memorial Park. Memorial contributions may be made to J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College, Educational Foundation Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 85622, Richmond, Va. 23285.