BRUNSWICK — Virginia Moran Dea, of Sunnybrook Village in Brunswick, died peacefully in her late 90s Sept. 16 at Parkview Hospital. Her three children were with her during her last days.

She never disclosed her true age, even making herself younger on her driver’s license. Years ago she told her daughter that she did not want her age stated in her obituary because “it’s none of their business!”

An avid bridge player with a very dry sense of humor, she loved the Jersey shore, the “City,” and her two vodka and tonics before dinner. She also loved to listen to Perry Como, Dean Martin and Herb Albert and the Tijuana Brass.

Born and and raised in Brooklyn, N.Y., she was the daughter of Ida Dorothy (Grady) Moran and Austin Moran.

After high school she attended business school and worked as an executive secretary for the Hearst newspaper chain. During her years there, she agreed to a blind date with a young lawyer, Joseph Dea, who worked for the Hearst chain in Chicago. They dated long distance for awhile and eventually married in Brooklyn in September 1943.

After World War II, they moved to Chicago for a few years, then settled in New Jersey in 1951, first in Metuchen, then in North Plainfield. They raised three children there, Maureen, Elaine and Joseph Jr.

After her husband died in 1984 she continued to live in their North Plainfield home until 2003 when she moved to Brunswick to be closer to her daughters. She lived at Thornton Oaks in Brunswick, where she made several good friends, especially Anne Munch, and enjoyed years of great bridge games. In late 2010, with her health declining, she moved to assisted living at Sunnybrook Village, where the staff was fantastic in their care and concern.

The family wishes to thank Dr. Schwarz, the nursing staff at Parkview Hospital and the staff at Sunnybrook Village, for the excellent, sensitive and empathic care they all provided. Thanks also to Tom Rothwell who drove her to Portland doctors’ appointments and whose dry wit was a great match for hers and kept her on her toes.

One of the last things she laughingly said to her children before she died was, “Now I’m glad I had you three brats.”

Survivors include her three children, Maureen of Brunswick, Elaine of Chelmsford, Mass., and Joe of West Hollywood, Calif.; and a grandson, Patrick Winther of Chelmsford, Mass.

Memorial services were held earlier this week.

Memorial donations may be made to the Northeast Lung Transplant Fund in honor of Renee Brodeur online at ntafund.org or by mail to NTAF, 150 W. Radnor Chester Rd., Suite F-120, Radnor, PA 19087, or by calling 1-800-642-8399.

Arrangements are in care of the Brackett Funeral Home, 29 Federal St., Brunswick.

Condolences can be expressed at brackettfuneralhome.com.