Nancy Ann Browne's Obituary
Nancy Ann Browne, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, friend, and dedicated nurse, passed away peacefully on May 23, 2025 due to natural causes at the Richard E. Jacobs branch of Cleveland Clinic.
Born in Taylor, Pennsylvania, Nancy was the daughter of Robert Morris and Blodwyn (née Jones) Morris. A proud graduate of Taylor High School, class of 1956, she pursued her passion for caring for others at Saint Raphael School of Nursing in New Haven, Connecticut, graduating in 1959. In 1960, she married David Ross Browne, beginning a 65-year journey together marked by adventure, dedication, and love.
Nancy’s career in nursing spanned over four decades and six states, where she touched countless lives with her compassion and skill. She retired in 1998 after 45 years of service, including 29 years as an OB nurse at Allen Medical Center in Oberlin, Ohio.
Her life was a testament to service and community. A longtime member of First Church in Oberlin, United Church of Christ, Nancy dedicated herself to organizing Santa’s Attic for 33 years, serving countless meals during Wednesday night church suppers for 17 years, teaching Sunday School, and working on various church committees. She also contributed to her community as a member of the Junior Women’s Club and Welcome Wagon, and as an active supporter of AFS as President and Vice President for Lorain County.
A nurturing and creative spirit, Nancy filled her home and heart with knitting, crochet, gardening, bird watching, coloring, puzzles, and family gatherings. She also found joy in running the hospital gift shop at Allen Medical Center and her booth at Main Street Antiques in Oberlin. Her passion and talent inspired the founding of the inFAMOUS Welsh Cookie Company in 1995.
Nancy’s legacy extended far beyond her family and community. She was an AFS mother to five international exchange students—Ashley Dove (South Africa), Sandro Bejarano (Peru), Brett Gilligan (Australia), Tony Conahaute (Dominican Republic), and Anja Blobel (Germany)— maintaining lifelong connections with them and their families.
She was recognized for her many contributions with a nomination for Lorain County’s Woman of the Year in 2011.
Nancy is preceded in death by her parents, Robert and Blodwyn Morris; her brothers, Bill, Jason (“Bud”), Philip, and David; her brothers- and sisters-in-law, Richmond Browne, Caroline Vunkannon, Betty Jean Morris, and Carol Shamonsky; her niece, Meredith Mead; her nephew, Stephen Morris; and her AFS son, Tony Conahuate.
She is survived by her loving husband of 65 years, David Browne; her brother, Robert Morris; her sister-in-law, Sandra Browne; her daughter, Deidre (née Browne) Gargasz and her husband Bruce Gargasz, and their children Andrea, Bryan, Dylan (and his fiancé, Kirstynn), and Tyler; her son, Michael Browne, and his wife Jeanette, and their children Jenny (and her husband, Peter), Chelsea, and Keaton; her son, Peter Browne, and his wife Amy McMillan, and Kris Kansco, and their children David, Carter, and Avery; her son, Reese Browne, and his husband Jeremy Kucholtz; and a large extended family and cherished friends.
Nancy’s life was guided by her unwavering dedication to her family, her church, and her community. As her husband, David, reflected, “Neither of us knew what we were getting into when we promised to marry, after only one week of knowing each other. And there were difficulties to navigate over, but Nancy was a great navigator. Our marriage lasted 65 years, and was always filled with excitement, challenge, and new experiences. If she saw an opportunity for new experiences, we went that way. When Nancy said, ‘I’ll do it,’ no one ever doubted her commitment.”
A Memorial Service will be held at First Church in Oberlin on August 16th, 2025 at 11:00 a.m.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Friendship Animal Protective League (APL) of Lorain County or ASP at First Church.
Nancy’s life was a shining example of love, dedication, and service. She will be deeply missed by all whose lives she touched.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Dovin and Reber Jones Funeral & Cremation Center. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.dovinreberjones.com
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