Mary Latham-Brown

Mary Ellen (Ritz) Latham-Brown, age 86, died January 5, 2017 at home. She was the wife of the late Charles Latham-Brown and brother of the late George Ritz. She was born in Cambridge, MA, to Henry and Jeannette (Doucette) Ritz. Her paternal grandparents, Oscar and Elizabeth Ritz, became her legal guardians when she was eight months old. Her Aunt, Helen Ritz Coleman, provided her with clothes and voice lessons. She leaves behind two children and their spouses, Ernest Latham-Brown and his wife Julie, and Carol (Latham-Brown) Faini and her husband Arthur. Also surviving are two grandsons, Ellis and Jesse Latham-Brown.

Mrs. Latham-Brown taught at several Framingham area schools, the latest being Keefe Tech, in the special needs department. She was also the organist at two Christian Science churches in Framingham and Weston, and a soloist and choir member in many greater Boston area churches. Her volunteer work consisted of playing the piano and singing at various nursing homes every month for years. She was very active in numerous community and church groups, including Cushing Hospital Auxiliary (past president), Payson Park Church in Belmont, Grace Church in Framingham, the Salvation Army, the Red Cross, the Council on Aging, The Clef Club, and the Framingham Choral Society. Her writing abilities included numerous letters to the editor, doggerels, short stories and publicity for many groups, including the Framingham Symphony. Funeral services will be held January 29, 2017, at 3:00pm with visiting hour at 2:00 p.m. prior, at MetroWest Wadsworth-Chiappini Funeral Home, 381 Union Ave, Framingham, MA. Burial will be private.