Aurora B. Brown

1925 – 2013

SCARBOROUGH — Aurora “Ora” B. Brown, 88, of Portland, formerly of Rumford, passed away peacefully on Mother’s Day, May 12, at Gosnell Memorial Hospice House, surrounded by her loving family.

Aurora was born in Rumford in 1925, the daughter of Jeanne and Aime Bisson.

In 1945, she married Harold Brown, and together they raised four children. The values and work ethic they modeled and instilled in their children was their greatest gift. They also played an active role in the lives of their eight grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren, and connected on a very personal level with each of them.

She was a graduate of Stephens High School, Class of 1943. In 1944, she joined the U.S. Cadet Nurse Corps, training at St Mary’s Medical Center in Lewiston, and later provided nursing care in the Rumford area. She also enjoyed the years she spent working at the Yard Goods Center. She belonged to the Daughters of Isabella, the University of Maine Extension Homemaker Group and a number of quilting groups. She enjoyed sewing, knitting, gardening, painting, playing games and doing crafts. She was an avid sports fan, watching her children participate in Rumford sports and loyally following the Red Sox through thick and thin.

She was up for any challenge, including an introduction to camping on Webb Lake with four children. She really didn’t know the meaning of the word “can’t.” If something needed to be done for her friends or family, Aurora was determined to find a way to get it done. At 75 years old she learned to use the computer and email to stay in touch with her growing entourage of family and friends.

She is survived by her four children, Jean Violette and her husband, John, of Granby, Conn.; Dennis Brown and his wife, Nancy, of Windham; Gary Brown and his wife, Cheryl, of Manchester, N.H., and Patricia Stogsdill and her husband, Russ, of Scarborough; as well as her eight grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren spread all across the U.S. and Sweden. She is also survived by her brother, Marc Bisson and his wife, Lola, of Rumford; sisters, Lucienne Royce of Hinsdale, N.H., Irene Dorr of North Fort Meyers, Fla., and Simonne Rafuse and her husband, Dick, of Rumford; as well as several nieces and nephews.

Aurora was predeceased by her husband, Harold “Brownie” in 2008, after 62 years of marriage.

The family would like to thank her personal physician, Heather Schwemn, and the doctors and staff at Maine Medical Center, New England Rehab Hospital and the Gosnell Memorial Hospice House for the compassionate care she received as well as the support provided to the family.

You are invited to share your thoughts, condolences and fond memories with the Brown family by visiting their guest book at www.SGThibaultFuneralHome.com.