Friends, Family Mourn Brick Woman Who Fought 'In Flip Flops'

BRICK, NJ -- “Even though today seems like a tough day, we have tougher days ahead.”

When Anthony Verdura spoke those words in October, he and his wife, Tracy, were hoping that those tougher days were going to be a year or more in the future for themselves and daughter Madison. But the toughest of days arrived too soon: Tracy Verdura, who had been battling oral cancer for two years, lost that fight last week. She was 45 years old.

The Brick Township family had received an outpouring of support from friends and the community during Tracy’s fight; Anthony is on permanent disability due to a back injury suffered in 1995, and between that and Tracy’s illness, the family has scraped by. A community-shared “Fighting in Flip Flops” -- which honored Tracy’s love of being at the beach -- circulated around town, with wreathes of flip flops and yards planted with them, all to show support and raise funds to help the family.

The Verduras’ friends are stepping up again and hoping the community will help: a GoFundme account has been set up to help pay for Madison’s education long-term, but also to help keep her in the dance school, Standing Ovations School of Dance, where she has been taking lessons for a few years.

Funeral arrangements for Tracy are being handled by O’Brien Funeral Home, 505 Burnt Tavern Road Extension, in Brick. Visitation is Wednesday, Feb. 10, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the funeral home. A funeral service will begin at 10 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 11, at St. Raphael Episcopal Church, 1520 Route 88, Brick.

Tracy’s obituary, on the O’Brien website, reads:

Tracy was born in Madison, Wisconsin to Donald and Donna Courtney. As the daughter of a Chief Warrant Officer 4 for the U.S. Army, Tracy grew up traveling the world and graduated from Patch High School in Stuttgart, Germany. She went on to work as a mortgage processor for many years. Tracy married the love of her life, Anthony, in 2000 and they welcomed their daughter Madison in 2006. Tracy devoted herself to Madison and enjoyed attending her dance competitions and spending quality time with her -- whether it be at Girl Scouts, getting pedicures, or just enjoying quiet time at home. She also loved traveling, concerts -- especially Rod Stewart, wearing flip flops, and being at the beach with her toes in the sand.

She was preceded in death by her mother, Donna Kaiser Courtney. Tracy is survived by her husband, Anthony George Verdura, her daughter Madison Courtney Verdura, her loving father, Donald Courtney, and brother, Brian Courtney.

The GoFundme page for Madison Verdura can be found by clicking here.

(Tracy, Madison and Anthony Verdura on the beach in Costa Rica, the family’s last vacation, supplied by friends. Courtesy Anthony Verdura)