Victoria C. Brown

Victoria Carlson Brown passed away peacefully January 8, 2010 in Bellevue. She is survived by a loving family: daughter Adriane R. D'Andrea of Seattle, son Mark C. Brown of Anchorage, daughter Daphne Salvo Pilon of Bellevue, grandson Damien A. Salvo of Anchorage, granddaughter Amy V. Salvo of Bellevue, and a much loved extended family and honorary family of Browns, Carlsons, Morans, Coopers, Strassers, Salvos and Pilons. She will be greatly missed by all who loved her.

Victoria was born June 18, 1916, in Antrim, Pennsylvania to Eric and Anna Carlson, one of seven surviving children. She grew up in Jamestown, New York, where she attended Jamestown Business College. She met and married Herbert L. Brown, and their three children were born in Jamestown.

In early 1959, Herb went to Alaska, where his brother, Merle "Bing" Brown and his wife Dot had a business on the Kenai River. Herb had found his ideal place, and he wrote Vicky that she'd better follow him, because he wasn't coming back!

So Victoria sold the house, packed up the family, said goodbye to Daphne, their married oldest daughter, and all their family and friends, and went off to Alaska with Mark and Adriane. Somewhat to her surprise, she liked it too.

Herb and Vicky worked for the Federal Government in Whittier, Alaska, and later in Anchorage, where Vicky was a book keeper for the FAA. They lived in Anchorage for many years, joined before Herb died in 1974 by Daphne, now divorced, and her two children. Both Daphne and Adriane married for the second time in Anchorage, to Wallace A. Pilon and Samuel D'Andrea, respectively.

After retirement, Victoria traveled extensively, often with her widowed sister in law, Dot Brown, or her daughter Adriane. She went to Indonesia, Hong Kong, Singapore, England, on several cruises to Mexico, through the Panama Canal, and to many destinations in the United States.

In 1997 Victoria moved to Washington, where she lived with Daphne, now widowed. She still traveled with Adriane, but not as far. Her last trip was with both daughters to Arizona this past summer, where she saw all the Moran-Cooper family at an anniversary party. This was shortly after she turned ninety three. She enjoyed it immensely. Her family knows she is at a better party now, and we wish her joy everlasting.