BROWN, DOREEN BARBARA - It is with profound sadness and great loss that the family of a most amazing Mother, announces the passing of Doreen (nee Gill) Barbara Brown on Saturday, November 22, 2014 at the Dr. Everett Chalmers Hospital, in Fredericton, NB, surrounded by members of her loving and devoted family. The family would like to thank the great staff at the Dr. Everett Chalmers hospital for the great care Mom received during her brief time at the hospital. We would also like to thank the fine folks at Paradise Villa for the great care she received since moving there last year. Born in Ufton, England on April 11, 1919, Doreen was the eldest daughter of the late William and Doris (Fields) Gill. She was baptized in the Church of England as an infant. At the age of 7, Doreen emigrated to Canada with her parents and three siblings aboard the Andania, her Father having received a land grant. She loved being from England and was a proud expatriate, but never returned to the place of her birth. Upon arriving in New Brunswick, she attended school on Howland Ridge. After finishing school she went to work, as was the custom of the day. She had many different positions and lived in Marysville, NB for a time, working as a house keeper for Mrs. Kelly and helping Mrs. Kelly do cleaning at the Marysville Cotton Mill. It was during this time that she was a member of the Salvation Army Church. On November 9, 1938 she married her sweetheart, Douglas Lombray Brown (late). Her family legacy includes 16 children, 36 grandchildren, 44 great grandchildren and 1 great great grandchild. Doreen was employed in many different capacities during her life as she worked so hard to raise her family: she picked potatoes and worked on potato harvesters, she was a cook in a long-term care facility in Ontario, a hairdresser for many in the village and she cleaned house for several people. Never afraid of hard work, she did what she could to ensure her children had the necessities of life. Being a Mother was her greatest joy. In order to do this she was very proud of achieving her driver’s license for the first time at the age of 51. She was a member of the RCL Millville Branch #59, and a life long Liberal.
Doreen was a great advocate for her little “Village in the Valley” - Millville; having worked many years on the committees that included planning winter carnivals, sports events talent contests and bake sales. She and Gerald shared many years of horsing. She also played the guitar at one time and always loved to sing. She said she one day wished she could have been a professional singer. She is survived by her children: Carolyn Braun, Millville, NB; Carmen (Doug Anderson) LaFontaine, Vernon, BC; William (Billy) (Myrtle Liston) Brown, Howland Ridge, NB; Percy (Helen) Brown, Okotokos, AB; Paul (Terrie Willems) Brown, Mississauga, ON; Bette-Jean Brown, Millville, NB; George (Teresa) Brown, Maple Ridge, NB; Daphne Brown, Kamloops, BC; Marty (Martha) (Phil Whiteside) Brown, St. Stephen, NB; Merlin (Brenda) Brown, Riverview, NB; Dannie (Judith) Brown, North Sydney, NS; Michael (Susan) Brown, Newburg, NB and Christopher (Tracey) Brown, Fredericton, NB. She is also survived by a daughter-in-law, Bonnie Brown, Greenhill Lake, NB; a son-in-law, Russell Henrichs, Kitchener-Waterloo, ON; a brother Stanley (Bobbi) Gill, Victoria, BC; sisters Hilda Jones, Surrey, BC, Hazel Flemming, Millville, NB, Alexandra Moran, Whitby, ON and Roselie Tull, Salinas, California; sisters-in-law, Marnie Gill, Bobbi Gill; brother-in-law Philip Tull; several nieces, nephews and cousins. Besides her parents, she was predeceased by her first husband Douglas Lombray Brown; her long-time partner, Gerald Robert Wright; a son Justin; two daughters, Cheryle and Delma; a son-in-law, Arden Braun; great granddaughter, Jolene Braun; brothers, Richard, James and Kenneth Gill; sisters, Kaye Gamache and infant Stella; brothers-in-law, Charles Jones, Robert Gamache, Willard Flemming and Gerry Moran; sisters-in-law, Joyce Gill and Eileen Gill.
Visitation will take place at Flewellings Funeral Home, 585 Otis Drive, Nackawic, NB on Tuesday, November 25 from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 pm. The funeral will be held at Flewellings Funeral Home Chapel on Wednesday, November 26, 2014 at 2 p.m. Rev. Allan Myshrall, assisted by her son Dannie Brown will lead the service. Music will be by Carolyn Patterson, Dannie and Judy Brown and Scott Cullins. Pallbearers will be all grandchildren who are able to attend. Burial will take place following the service at the Hawkins Corner Cemetery in Hawkins Corner, NB. All are invited to join the family at the Millville Legion for a reception following the burial. The family is requesting that donations in Doreen’s memory be made to the Hawkins Corner Cemetery or to a charity of the donor’s choice. www.flewellingswan.com