Patricia Jane Browning

Patricia Jane (Lynch) Browning, also known as Pat, Ma, Mother, Momma, Grammi, Gramma, Ear, and the G.O.A.T. died peacefully at Lourdes Senior Community in Waterford, Michigan on November 1, 2023. She was 89 years old. A lifelong devout Catholic, she would have been pleased to know she passed on All Saints Day.

Pat was born in Detroit on November 7, 1933 to Harold Roy Lynch and Esther Daly Lynch, younger sister to Rosemary (1931-2006). Pat lost the hearing in one ear due to an accident when she was a small child, but in her own words, she “never missed a beat.” She spent the rest of her life making sure to orient her “good ear” to the best conversation in the room. She attended St. David’s Catholic High School, where she made many lifelong friends, and went on to study Journalism at the University of Detroit, from which she graduated in 1955.

She met Lloyd Eugene (Gene) Browning at the University of Detroit and they married in 1955. The newlyweds built a house in St. Clair Shores, where they lived until 1963, when they moved to Grosse Pointe Woods. In 1973 they moved to Sturgis, Michigan, and in 1984 they settled in Grand Rapids, Michigan, where they lived until 2017. Pat and Gene had the opportunity to travel the world together, with trips to India and Nepal, Jamaica, Mexico, Ireland and England, France, and Spain. Gene passed away on New Year’s Day, 2021 and is probably waiting for her with a bowl of butter pecan ice cream.

Pat was devoted to her eight children and nineteen grandchildren - Daniel Browning of Rochester Hills, Michigan (Sandra Bornor; Keely, Connor, Kevin), Catherine Scheidt of Bloomfield Hills, Michigan (Rick Scheidt; Andrew, Christopher, Sarah), Julie Browning of Northbrook, Illinois (August Swanenberg; Irene, Audrey), Laura Hildebrandt of Mequon, Wisconsin (Daniel Hildebrandt; Samuel, Annelise), Mary Browning of Anderson Island, Washington (Matthew Brynildson; Colin, Maeve, Katherine, Sean); Patrick Browning of St. Charles, Illinois (Alison Stone; James, Violet), Michael Browning of Royal Oak, Michigan (Susan Browning; Natalie), and Sheila Peuchaud of Reno, Nevada (Jean-Gabriel; Jacques, Raphaelle). She also leaves behind ten great-grandchildren (Brady, Logan, Aidan, Abigail, Scarlett, Jade, Lilly, Hudson, Maggie, and Wren). She often said that the greatest gift she could give her children was their siblings.

Having come of age at a time when many women did not pursue higher education or careers, it was important to Pat to instill the value of education and professional attainment in all of her children. Six of her children received their bachelor’s degrees from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor; two from Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. Altogether, her eight children earned two medical degrees, one law degree, five master's degrees, and one doctorate. She took great pride in her children’s accomplishments, and “got a real kick” out of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Pat had a cartoon on her desk of a child asking if there were dogs in Heaven, to which an adult replied, “if there are no dogs, it isn’t Heaven.” Pat will surely be greeted with much tail wagging by Candy, Banshee, LouLou, Finnegan, and Max.

In her heyday, Pat read the Detroit Free Press every day, never left the house without lipstick, wrote gorgeous cursive handwriting, and drew beautiful doodles on the backs of millions of envelopes. She will be remembered for her quick 100% Irish wit and the joy she took in gathering her large family together for holidays and weddings. Those who loved her can imagine her whistling Beautiful Dreamer and Easter Parade with the angels.

A memorial service will be announced in the future.

In lieu of flowers, please make contributions to Clausen Memory Care at Lourdes Senior Community.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.familyfuneralcarekeego.com for the Browning family.