Brown, Ellen Marie (Brennan)

Ellen Marie Brown (Brennan), 62, of Coralville, died peacefully at her home on Sunday, May 5, 2013, surrounded by her family. A Memorial Mass will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, May 10, at St. Thomas More Catholic Church in Coralville. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday, with a rosary service at 4 p.m. and a vigil service at 7:30 p.m. at Lensing Oak Hill in Coralville. Burial will be held at Oak Hill Cemetery in Coralville.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Iowa City Hospice or St. Thomas More Catholic Church.

Ellen was born on May 18, 1950, in Emmetsburg, Iowa, the daughter of Francis and Gladys (Rierson) Brennan. Ellen graduated from Emmetsburg Catholic High School in 1968. Following graduation, she attended Emmetsburg Junior College. Ellen married her high school sweetheart John Joseph Brown on Oct. 22, 1971, in Santa Barbara, Calif. Ellen and Joe had five daughters. Due to recent health issues, Ellen retired from ENT Medical Services, where she worked in billing and insurance.

Ellen is survived by her husband, Joe; five daughters, Lisa (Ray) Thomas-Sanchez and their children, Kerry and Evan, Molly Brown and her children, Olivia and Laila, Sarah (Mike) Raecker and their children, Jacob and Zachary, Katy (Kyle) Knipper and one child on the way and Hilary (Bryan) Jensen; three siblings, Pat (Bill) Molloy, Jerry (Betty) Brennan and Rosie (Mike) Sebern; two brothers-in-law, Rich Brugman and Bill Brown; one sister-in-law, Kay Brown; and mother-in-law, Helen Brown.

Ellen was preceded in death by her parents; one sister, Kathy Brugman; father-in-law, J. Jay Brown; and her dog, Babe.

Online condolences may be sent at .

Published in The Gazette May 8, 2013.