January 6, 1942 ~ August 27, 2020 (age 78)
In Memory of Kathryn Marie Brown: A devoted wife, mother, and grandmother
From her Husband, Partner in Life, Soulmate:
There was a young lady, Kathryn Marie Berry, and over fifty-eight years ago, this sweet, loving, and adorable lady came into my life. It was actually on July 10th, 1962 on the beach in St. Clair Shores, Michigan our lives came together and five months later we were engaged to be married. On July 6th, 2020 we celebrated our fifty-seventh anniversary. What a life, oh what a life we spent together. Four children; Kelly, Kristen, Kevin, and Kenny and six grandchildren (Zach, Alex, Saoirse, Siobhan, Rylan, Ealin). After a detour in the Air Force and three years at Eastern Illinois University, we completed our journey in Colorado where we have spent the last forty-six years. Kathy cared deeply about children and nurtured hundreds of families and thousands of young children over a thirty-seven year career in home childcare. She was strict and at the same time very loving. It was not unusual to see her rocking and soothing one of them on her lap. Kathy was a great mother and the glue that held our family together. I was and still am the luckiest person on earth for having had this kind lady in my life. She will forever be in my heart. Our dear life together came to an end on August 27th, 2020 at 3:33pm, but we shall meet again in heaven for an eternity. God bless you my sweet! Ich Liebe Doch (I love you sweetheart). Your loving and caring husband, Ken and our adoring children and grandchildren and all who knew and loved you!
Kenneth and Kathryn raised their children in Ft. Collins and later Longmont, and then moved to Westminster where Kathryn raised many other children in her care for more than 24 years, until they retired to Frederick, ten years ago.
In memory of Kathryn Marie Brown, please consider donating to the Parkinson’s Foundation or American Cancer Society:
https://www.parkinson.org/ways-to-give
https://www.cancer.org/involved/donate.html
From her children:
Mother Momma Mom Ma Nana
The essence of a Mother: Nurturing, Protective, Dedicated, Loyal. The essence of our mother—all of these…and a Force, Fierce, Determined…and above all, Loving. She wrapped her love, support, and confidence around us, lifting us up throughout our lives. She was an unfailingly devoted mom who believed in each of us and all that we were capable of – “whatever you set your mind to”, she would say, “you can make happen”. We are uncertain as to how to sum up the entrepreneurial and spirited life of our mom—it seems impossible and inadequate to find the words that incapsulates her and conveys her entirely.
As she was nearing the end of her time here on earth, and while she was still able to speak, she shared with us her thoughts around what dad should do when she passed—“I’ve got ideas for him” she said…and on she went in sharing her thoughts and ideas for the love of her life once he was parted from her. So typical of her! She could never be silenced, deterred, or swayed when she set her mind to something. Though, there clearly were times each of us who loved and adored her wanted to do just that. But never—simply one of those impossibilities. Her life’s lessons when not spoken deliberately and clearly to us…were breeze-like whispers in our ears that persist like the waves of an endless ocean that have spanned from some of our earliest memories of her to now.
She was a masterful storyteller who captivated those around her in persistent reminiscing of her life. They were always her life’s stories and experiences filled with family, laughter, love, tragedy, triumph, and a quick-witted humor that one may not expect and caught us off guard regularly. She was a soulful thinker whose ability to recall details that never dimmed will forever amaze those of us that witnessed her near-photographic memory. She had an uncanny ear for music and the arts—and drew great pleasure in listening to the likes of Neil Diamond, Barbara Streisand, The Beatles, The Bee Gees, Simon & Garfunkel, Stevie Wonder, Elvis, and Etta James and so many more greats. So much so, she dragged us all to a Neil Diamond concert at ages where we were listening to much different music and musicians! But alas, never one to be deterred—it was an important part of her life’s enjoyments that she determinedly shared with us.
In the final few weeks of her life, mom had a harder time moving and speaking, but some of the last times we were able to physically engage her and connect will likely remain with each of us. She deliberately reached out to, embraced, and advised each of us in her final weeks. We still feel the warmth and love of it.
The essence of our Ma, Mom, Momma, Nana, Mother: She was Nurturing, Protective, Dedicated, Loyal, Fierce, Determined…A Force…and above all, Loving.
We will miss your physical, loving presence in our lives, but we will never forget the essence of you. You were a woman, wife, mother and grandmother with an indomitable spirit that will thrive within each of us forever. We love you mom.
Kathryn is survived by her husband, Kenneth Brown, four children: Kelly Turner (Jeff) of Fairfax, CA, Kris Reale (Joe) of Arvada, CO, Kevin Brown (Aisling) of Ft. Collins, CO and Kenneth M. Brown of Frederick, CO, and six grandchildren: Zach Huber, Alex Huber, Rylan Turner, Ealin Turner, Saoirse Brown and Siobhan Brown. Kathryn will be forever remembered by her brother John (Robin) Berry of Port Huron, MI and many nieces and nephews.
