Marie (Cavanaugh) Brown of Middletown, also known as “meme,” reunited with her heavenly family on July 11, 2024, in Middlesex Hospital with her daughter and grandson by her side. Marie was the loving wife of the late A. “Stub” Brown of Bethany.

At 93 years young, she enjoyed a storied life. It began in Bridgeport on July 27, 1930, a daughter of the late James and Anna (Lang) Cavanaugh of Botsford. There, Marie attended Newtown Schools and St Rose of Lima Church.

An accomplished basketball player, she earned a gold basketball charm, sportsmanship trophies, and her letter in basketball as she helped lead the high school women’s basketball team to many League Championships. After captaining her basketball team, she would then move on to tackle soccer and softball.

Marie loved music from a young age, serving as producer of the Senior Class production in 1948. She was a member of the choir and was soloist for an array of weddings and funerals at St Rose’s and then at St Aedan’s in Westville, and Our Lady of Assumption in Woodbridge. Outside of church and school her love of music continued through performing at local variety shows and even into dancing. Square dancing, a passion of hers and her soon to be husband, served as the backdrop over which they met and fell into each other’s arms.

Marie entered the workforce at Southern New England Telephone, serving as switchboard operator in Edmond Town Hall before adding Customer Service Rep in Bridgeport and then New Haven.

After a period spent in Westville, Marie settled in Bethany to raise her children, during which she worked the clerical department of Yale University Alumni Records until 1992.

In retirement, her life was anything but boring! She was deeply involved in supporting Stub’s love for “all things horses” from farmhand to coachmen’s “groom.” Continuing her life-long love for basketball and other sports, she was a fiery fan of UConn basketball and an enthusiastic Boston Red Sox follower.

And for the last 20 years, she cherished the countless adventures shared with her daughter Dede and her grandson Dylan, some of the stories of which we dare not detail here. And let’s not forget the hilarious escapades had with “PH,” an additional daughter of choice. Marie gifted her family with priceless direction, boundless courage, and infinite love. She was a role model and a hero to so many.

She is survived by her devoted daughter, Dede Dwyer of Middletown, beloved grandson Dylan Dwyer of Wormleysburg, Penn.; and a son, Guy Brown, and his life partner Debi Addabbo of Bethany. She will also be missed by a tremendous clan of incredibly loving nieces, nephews, and dear friends all of whom she adored.

Marie was predeceased by her toddler brother, Billy, parents James and Anna Cavanaugh, and infant daughter, Mary. She will now join her loving husband, Stub Brown, and her much-loved siblings Jim Cavanaugh, Joe Cavanaugh, and Katherine (Cavanaugh) Pierwola.

Family and friends are welcome to join a period of remembrance and reflection on Friday, July 19, from 4 to 7 pm at Honan Funeral Home, 58 Main Street in Newtown. On Saturday July 20 we will depart Honan Funeral Home to honor and celebrate Marie’s life with a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30 am at St Rose of Lima Church, 46 Church Hill Road. Marie will be laid to rest later that day in St Rose Cemetery, 20 Cherry Street in Sandy Hook.

In her final weeks, Marie was cared for by the compassionate, empathic and professionalism demonstrated by ALL staff at both Middlesex Hospital, Middletown and Pilgrim Manor in Cromwell. Nothing can make this process easy or OK, but not feeling totally alone can make a difference. Dede and Dylan can’t thank you enough as your caring overflowed to us.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in her name to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and the American Breast Cancer Foundation.

We love you so much, always.

The Newtown Bee July 19, 2024