Eleanor Forney Howells Brown

Eleanor Forney Howells Brown, beloved mother, grandmother, sister, teacher, and friend, passed away peacefully at age 80 on May 25, 2025, in Norwood, MA.

Born in New Brunswick, NJ, Eleanor (Ellie) spent her childhood in Hanover, PA, where she was raised in a close-knit family that deeply valued education, music, and tradition. Her fondest early memories were of time spent with her grandparents, “Ditty” and “Poppop,” on their small farm where the days were filled with fresh pies, fireflies, and a love of learning that would shape her life. She grew up in the historic Forney House, a treasured family home in Hanover that is now a tea house and bed and breakfast.

Ellie earned her undergraduate degree from Wilson College and her master’s degree from Yale University. A gifted and passionate music educator, she dedicated her life to music, establishing and maintaining successful piano studios in NY, OH, LA, and KY. She served as adjunct faculty at Murray State University and was the Founding Director of the Athena Festival, an organization that promoted piano and vocal music by women composers. She also brought her musical gifts to the church, playing the piano and accompanying choirs at First United Methodist Church in Paris, TN.

Ellie and her husband, Stephen Brown (Steve), raised their three children, Philip (Phil), Matthew (Matt), and Rebecca (Becky), in Murray, KY, where she was a devoted and loving mother. In 2011, she and Steve retired to Norwood, MA, where they restored a beautiful historic home on Walpole Street. It became a gathering place for family and the backdrop for countless holiday celebrations, meals, and memories.

She will be remembered for her extraordinary patience, quiet strength, and deep devotion to the people she loved. Ellie was a gifted cook, a meticulous knitter and seamstress, a passionate voter and civic volunteer, and the best listener anyone could ask for. She gave her time generously to her students, her church, her community, and most of all, to her family.

She is preceded in death by her beloved husband of nearly 50 years, Steve, and by her parents, George Benjamin Howells and Helen Young Forney. She is also survived by her children:

• Phil Brown of Sønderborg, Denmark with his wife, Pernilla Brown

• Matt Brown of Bisbee, AZ with his wife, Xochitl Orozco

• Becky Spanos of Dubai, UAE with her husband, Jason Spanos

She is also survived by her cherished grandchildren: Nace, Daphne, Christopher, Linnea, Ada, Alex, and Ingvar; her sisters Martha Howells of Hanover, PA, and Suzanne McDaniel of Spartanburg, SC; and many nieces, nephews, former students, and dear friends.

Visiting Hours will be held in the Gillooly Funeral Home, 126 Walpole St, (Rt.1A) NORWOOD, on Monday, June 30, 2025 from 11AM - 1PM. Service at the Funeral Home at 11:30AM. A Private Interment will follow.

In lieu of flowers, the family invites donations in Ellie’s memory to one of the following:

1. American Humane Society: Ellie was a lifelong supporter of animal welfare. Donations may be made online at: www.americanhumane.org

2. Stephen Brown Honorary Keyboard Scholarship at Murray State University: Established by Ellie in honor of her late husband, Steve, this scholarship supports aspiring musicians studying keyboard performance. To donate, please mail a check to: Murray State University Foundation, c/o Office of Development, 200 Heritage Hall, Murray, KY 42071. Please write "Stephen Brown Honorary Keyboard Scholarship" in the memo line.

Ellie leaves behind a legacy of music, kindness, creativity, and quiet strength. Her life touched many and her love will be felt always.