Patty Brown
Patricia “Patty” Brown, a recent addition to our Decatur House family, is a Michigan native with a warm, engaging personality.
New residents often need time to adjust, but Patty has “hit the road running,” taking part in activities and socializing with fellow residents.
When not involved in a game of bingo, or engaged in lively conversation, Patty might be in the sunroom working diligently on a jigsaw puzzle.
Patty is not afraid to try new things. When invited to participate in a painting class, she initially demurred – “I’m not an artist” – but then gamely relented.
She went on to create a lovely acrylic painting, a picturesque landscape featuring a cherry tree.
Following graduation from the University of Michigan, Patty boldly moved to New York City, where she met her future husband, Charlie.
They settled in historic Windham, a small ski resort town dubbed “The Gem of the Catskills.” There, Patty and Charlie, a lawyer, raised a family of six.
Patty was very active in her church according to her daughter, Trish.
“She founded the ladies’ guild at St. Theresa’s,” Trish said. “And it’s still going strong some 50 years later.”
Patty was also a very accomplished knitter.
“If she was sitting, she was knitting!” Trish said. “She knitted … for us and relatives in Ireland.”
Patty traveled throughout the world with Charlie until his passing in late 2011. To help fill the void, Patty spent time visiting with her children and their families before settling in at Decatur House.
While most of her children live along the east coast, Patty also has a daughter living in Turkey, and her oldest son, a priest, in the Philippines.
Additionally, Patty has 23 grandchildren, and is currently anticipating the arrival of her sixth great-grandchild.
Because her husband, and all six of their children, attended the University of Notre Dame, Patty is also anticipating the arrival of football season.
According to Trish, her mom will be at the TV, cheering for the “Fighting Irish.”
