- Date Of Birth: August 27, 1920
- Date Of Death: August 26, 2022
- State: Florida
It is with great sorrow that the family of Lena Brown announces her passing on August 26th, 2022, one day short of her 102nd Birthday. Lena was loved by the many people she touched in her life and leaves behind a strong legacy of faith, family, love, and loyalty.
Lena was born on August 27th, 1920 in Irsina, Italy and immigrated to the United States as a young child with her Mother. Her Father and siblings preceded them several years earlier and settled in Millburn, NJ. After high school she attended seamstress school which was the beginning of her lifelong passion for sewing. As a young adult she met the love of her life, Fred Brown. They enjoyed 60 years of married life spanning his time as a MIA/POW during WWII, raising a family, building a family business, and her selfless and unconditional love and care during his battles with multiple debilitating diseases. Following their retirement in 1974, Lena and Fred moved from Springfield, New Jersey to Boca Raton, Florida. In this new phase of their life her passion for sewing continued as she helped family, friends, and neighbors with various alterations and wasn’t shy about expressing her opinion to anyone regarding the style best suited for them. The interpersonal relationships were as important to her as the finished product. Lena was also an avid bowler and became Secretary and Treasurer of several leagues. She also loved cooking, making sure everyone was fed, a day at the beach, and a good book. Most important to Lena was her faith in God and unwavering devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary which carried her through the many difficult times in her life. She was a long standing Parishioner of St. Joan of Arc and until recently enjoyed volunteering her time cleaning and preparing the Altar Linens. In addition to her love of faith, family, and friends, Lena enjoyed her daily Manhattan while watching sports, game shows, and Turner Classic Movies in the comfort of the home that she had shared with Fred, living her remaining days independently.
Lena was predeceased by her husband Fred Brown Sr., her parents Cesare and Portia Boffilo, her siblings Constance, Jerry, and Rachel, and is survived by her 109 year old sister, Anna; her children Fred Jr. and his wife Mary Ann, Cesare, Mary and her husband Les; grandchildren Fred III and his wife Dorothy, Jennifer, Doug and his wife Kim, Greg; great-grandchildren Nathan, Julia, Reese, and Owen; as well as many nieces, nephews, great nieces, and great nephews.
