Mary Margaret Brown

Mary Margaret Brown -- HerscherMary Margaret Brown, 90, of Herscher, died Friday (Jan. 9, 2009) at the Miller Center in Kankakee. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. Wednesday until the 11 a.m. celebration of the memorial Mass at St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church, Herscher. Father Mike Pennock will officiate. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church. Clancy-Gernon Funeral Home, Bourbonnais, is in charge of arrangements.She was born Feb. 5, 1918, in Bement, the daughter of Margaret Mary O'Connor Foran and William Patrick Foran. She is survived by her husband, John F. Brown, whom she married in Ivesdale, on Dec. 11, 1943. They celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary this last December, and he has lovingly cared for her for the last 20 years during her years of declining health.Prior to her marriage she was employed in the accounting department of Dr. N.B. Caldwell, Inc., in Monticello. She and her husband spent the early part of their married life in Monticello, where their three children were born. They moved to Herscher on July 4, 1963, and purchased the Herscher IGA.For many years, Mrs. Brown helped her husband manage the Herscher IGA store. She also taught catechism for 25 years at St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church, where she was a member since 1963. For over 35 years, she was active in parish, deanery, diocesan and national Catholic affairs. She was active in many fundraising events over the years. She enjoyed playing bridge and belonged to several clubs. She and her husband traveled extensively throughout the U.S. and abroad. She was always very proud of her Irish heritage.Survivors include her husband, John; son, John Brown and his wife, Carolyn, of Monticello; daughter, Margaret Jensen and her husband, Roger, of Herscher; and daughter, Trish Brown Cordes and her husband, Sam, of West Lafayette, Ind. Grandchildren include Randy (Alla) Brown of Chattanooga, Tenn., Kelly (Patrick) Maciejewski of Normal, Jeannie (Tom) Justie of Arlington Heights, Rob (Kris) Jensen of Darien, Michelle (Tim) Sussman of Bolingbrook, Kelly Cordes of Estes Park, Colo., Jill (Phil) Cordes of New York City, Carter (Anna) Cordes and Tanya Birch, all of Omaha, Neb. She also has 15 surviving great-grandchildren.She was predeceased by her parents and three brothers.

Mary Margaret Brown

February 5, 1918 - January 9, 2009