Jean Louise (Clarkson) Brown

Jean was born in Toronto on Guy Fawkes Day. She attended J R Robertson PS and Lawrence Park Collegiate Institute. She took the Primary Specialist course in Toronto Teachers College and started teaching kindergarten at Ryerson PS for the Toronto Board of Education in September 1955. It was there that she met Lorne Brown, also a beginning teacher. They became engaged May 23, 1962 and were married at Glenview Presbyterian Church on August 4, 1962.

Lorne and Jean had two daughters Jillian Lee (Faron Harnett) and Kimberley Lynn (Prem Hall). They had three grandchildren Caymen and Rowan Hall, and Emily Brown. Bravery Bryden Brown was their first great-grandchild.

For 58 years they lived in their home in Willowdale, the scene of many dinner parties, celebrations, and storytelling and music concerts. For 25 years they held an annual Carolling on St Thomas Eve event. Chinese New Year was also one of their big celebrations.

Jean was a second mom to many of her daughters' friends, and best friend forever to a surprising number of people. Everyone was attracted to her warm, caring, kind and joyous personality. She turned staying out of the spotlight into an art form, but everyone knew that her talents in cooking, baking, hospitality, and being there for other people were all worthy of the spotlight. Like the Shaker hymn says, Jean and Lorne found themselves "in the valley of love and delight".

She travelled to many places but never boasted of her travels. She worked in a distress centre, was a guide at the Gibson House in North York, and worked as a supply teacher later in her career. In that capacity she took a group of children from the Kensington Community School to sing in the recording studio where Sharon Lois & Bram were making their first record album. She was a behind-the-scene fixture at many storytelling concerts and festivals. Dan Yashinksy called her one to the world's greatest listeners.

People were impressed by the fact that she remembered their birthdays and anniversaries, sending them cards and letters. In a age where most communication is done online, receiving a real card or letter is a well-remembered treat.

As she got older, she was distressed by the loss of so many of her old friends. But she kept acquiring new friends at an even greater rate, a surprising accomplishment.

In March 2020, five days after she took her daughter Jill to the hospital for an emergency, Jean herself was taken to the North York General Hospital for an emergency. Six weeks later she came home for the last time. Whether she liked it or not, the spotlight finally found her, and for her remaining six weeks she was a star performer, inspiring her many friends and family with her courage, kindness, uncomplaining attitude, and good humour.

She slipped peacefully away in the early hours of May 30, leaving behind oh so many people feeling bereft that they could no longer be with that incredible warm, loving and caring person known as Jean Brown. She will truly be missed.

If she could, Jean would probably say to us now, "Goodbye, good and faithful friends; I loved being with you all. Carry on as if you were normal."