Obituary of Ethel Brown

BROWN: Ethel Brown passed away at the Brandon Regional Health Centre on Thursday, January 5, 2017 at the age of 88 years. The youngest of seven children, Ethel was born January 15, 1928 in Minnedosa to Thomas and Rose Johnson of Moore Park. Ethel was so tiny at birth that she fit in a dresser drawer and was not expected to live. Well, she proved everyone wrong and enjoyed a long and full life! After living briefly in Moore Park as a young child, the family moved to Brandon where Ethel completed high school and lived the rest of her life. During the Second World War, Ethel met the love of her life, Harold Brown, whom she married on May 9, 1946. After 10 years of many adventures, including encounters with bears, being chased by a bull, and nearly drowning (rescued by Harold) while swimming in the Assiniboine River, Ethel and Harold decided to start a family and chose son Gregory in November 1956 and daughter Judith in November 1960. Ethel's employment included working in the hospitality/food service industry as a hostess at the Brandon Golf & Country Club and Suburban Restaurant; however, she spent most of her working career as a nurse's assistant at the Assiniboine Hospital and Fairview Personal Care Home. As Harold was a Veteran, he and Ethel were members of the Royal Canadian Legion. Ethel loved to get her hair done, dress up, and go out dancing with "Brownie" at the club. Before knee and hip issues made it too difficult, Ethel also liked to curl, play darts and go 5-pin bowling with Harold. In her later years, Ethel loved to read her medical books, tell stories (and jokes), play Scrabble and scratch tickets, watch golf on television, and was a big fan of Coronation Street. Ethel was predeceased by husband Harold on December 18, 1995, as well as by her parents, her brother Robert, and her sisters Anne, Edna, Evelyn, and Hazel. Ethel is survived by son Greg Brown (Erin) of Minitonas, daughter Judi Brown of Calgary, grandson Timothy Brown (Tanis) of Brandon, granddaughter Tiffany Brown (Ryan) and great-granddaughters Natasha and Alissa of Brandon, grandson Mathew Brown of Winnipeg, grandson Jeremy Hicks (Amber) and great-granddaughter Bella of Brandon, sister Marge of Ottawa, favourite niece Florence ("Sis") Smith, numerous other nieces and nephews, and special friends Darlene, Pete, Bev, Jim, and Susan. A private family graveside service will be held at the Brandon Cemetery at a later date. An open reception to celebrate Ethel's life will follow at a location to be determined. In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Ethel may be made to the Salvation Army, 9 Princess Avenue East, Brandon, MB, R7A 1R8, or a charity of choice.