Obituary of Helen A. Brown

Helen A. Brown, 86, passed away on Thursday, May 24, 2018 at The Pines at Poughkeepsie, NY.  Helen was born on October 24, 1931 in Brooklyn, NY to the late Michael and Helen Healy Mulrooney.  She married the love of her life Michael D. Brown on February 7, 1959 at St. Eugene’s Chapel in the Bronx; they met at a dance at St. Philip Neri on the Grand Concourse. 

Helen worked at Chase Manhattan Bank, A&S Department Store, and Dan Cooper Fabric Showroom in Manhattan prior to moving to Poughkeepsie.  A local resident since 1962, Helen received her AAS in Nursing from Dutchess Community College.  She was employed as a Registered Nurse at Castle Point VA Hospital, then at Vassar Brothers Hospital in the CCU/ICU unit until her retirement in 1996. 

Helen greatly enjoyed being with her family who meant the world to her.  Helen was pre-deceased by her loving husband, Michael D. Brown on March 15, 2015, her newborn son Michael Brown on February 9, 1967, her infant granddaughter Kasey Wexler on October 8, 1992, her husband’s nephew Charles McDermott on September 14, 1987, and nephew in-law Gerry Roy on July 30, 2017.  Helen was also pre-deceased by her loving cousins Toddy Fehrenbacher McHugh, Roy Fehrenbacher, and her loving aunts Irene Healy, Margaret Healy, and Kathryn (Anton) Healy Fehrenbacher who took Helen in when she lost her parents at the age of ten.

Helen is survived by her daughters Maryann Quimby, Wappingers Falls, NY; Kathleen (Edward) Craven, Hyde Park, NY; Patricia Brown, Poughkeepsie, NY; Helen (Evan) Wexler, Brockport, NY; and Maureen.

Helen’s grandchildren were the lights of her life.  Nothing brought her more joy than family gatherings at Grandma and Grandpa’s house, vacations on Cape Cod, a family trip to Ireland, and attending her grandchildren’s sporting, dancing and church events.  She was able to watch them grow into beautiful individuals, she loved them and was very proud of each of them.  Helen is survived by her grandchildren Evan and Hunter Wexler, Edward and Michael Craven, Rachael and Annabelle Quimby, and James and Victoria. 

Helen is also survived by an extended family of relatives that were very special to her including nephews and niece Tommy(Joanne), Kevin(Lara), Bobby(Mark), and Cathy McHugh in California; cousin Gene Flynn and family in Florida; cousin Vinnie Flynn and family in Long Island, NY.  Helen’s husband’s cousin Sister Charlotte Raftery in NYC and her nieces and nephews, nieces Colleen (Charlie) Vinall and family in Atlanta, GA; Diane McDermott-Roy and family in Holliston, MA; Theresa (Bob) McDermott Dryfoos and family in Connecticut. Helen’s husband’s cousin James Melvin, his wife Kathy, and their family in West Springfield, MA; her husband’s cousins Patrick (Linda), John, and Winnie Pietrykowski and their families in Canada, and Pat & Eileen Murray of Galway, Ireland and their family.

Helen’s family would like to extend their thanks and appreciation to all the staff on the fifth floor at The Pines for the excellent care they took of Helen over the past year and a half, especially in the last few weeks. 

A celebration of Helen’s life will be on Saturday, June 9 from 4 pm to 6 pm at the Timothy P. Doyle Funeral Home, Inc. 371 Hooker Avenue, Poughkeepsie, NY 12603.  In accordance with Helen’s wishes, she will be cremated and the burial will be held at a later date at the convenience of the family.  Memorial donations can be made to the Croft Corners Fire Department, 7 Spackenkill Road, Poughkeepsie, NY 12603, or Fire Police Association of Dutchess County; her husband Michael was a volunteer for over forty years in these organizations.  To send an online condolence, please visit our website at www.doylefuneral.home.com.