Joanne Brown

Mrs. Joanne Freeman Brown, 85, a resident of Wilmington Cross Road, passed away peacefully at her home on Friday morning November 3, 2017, following a brief illness. Born in Brattleboro, Vt. on April 21, 1932, she was the daughter of Jasper D. and Lucie (Coffin) Freeman. Her family moved to Whitingham in 1935 where her mother, Rev. Lucie Freeman accepted a position as Pastor at the Community Church of Whitingham and soon after, the Community Church in Halifax. Joanne grew up in Whitingham and graduated from Whitingham High School in 1950, where she developed lifelong friendships, missing only the most recent reunion lunch, held in September. She continued her education at The Mary Fletcher Hospital School of Nursing where she graduated as a Registered Nurse. In May of 1954 she was married by her mother to Donald R. Brown in the Community Church of Whitingham. She worked at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital, the Emergency Clinic at Mount Snow with Dr. Mickey Wolf and Helen Brigham. She also provided private home care to many clients, including M.A. Brown.She was a lifelong member of The Community Church of Whitingham, and she was a devoted member of the Ladies Benevolent Society for over 70 years. She became a member of the Whitingham Historical Society's "85" club this past summer. She enjoyed knitting, playing word games such as scrabble and banana grams, any card games and jigsaw puzzles. She was also an avid reader. She leaves her daughters, Donna Roy of Whitingham and Kelly Winter of Brattleboro, grandchildren Becky and Matt Goodnow, Josh Brown and Daniel Kunesch. She also leaves a brother-in-law Red Aldrich of Keene, N.H. and several great grandchildren, nieces, nephews and cousins. She also leaves behind many close friends including the gang from Senior Meals, caregiver Sue Galipo, and close friend Sherry Adams. She was predeceased by her husband Donald, son Jeff, sisters Virginia Aldrich and Betty Jean Gilmore. Graveside services will be held on Sunday November 12 at 2 pm at the Sadagwa Cemetary with Rev. Douglas Laplante officiating. A time of fellowship will follow in the vestry of the Community Church of Whitingham, hosted by the Ladies Benevolent Society. Memorial gifts may be made to the Whitingham Ladies Benevolent Society, or Jacksonville Senior Meals c/o Covey, Allen and Shea Funeral Homes P.O. box 215, Wilmington Vt. 05363. Graveside services will be held on Sunday November 12 at 2 pm at the Sadagwa Cemetary with Rev. Douglas Laplante officiating. A time of fellowship will follow in the vestry of the Community Church of Whitingham, hosted by the Ladies Benevolent Society.