Maria Theresia Brown

Maria Theresia Brown died peacefully on October 3, 2016 in Portland, Oregon. She was born in Ludwigshafen, Germany on September 12, 1930, third child of Hans and Henriette Herrmann. Maria grew up in a difficult time during WWII in Germany. As a young woman she met a dashing young Rhodes scholar, Paul E. Shay while working for the US Army in Heidelberg. They were married in1952. In 1954 she gave birth to her only son, Michael. After a divorce, she raised her son by herself for 14 years in Chicago working as an office manager in the import business. During that time she met the next great love of her life, an Assistant Professor of Higher Education at Iowa State, Milton D. Brown. They were married in 1970. They both retired to Bradenton, Fl. where Maria managed her condo building at El Conquistador while Milt taught part-time at community colleges and senior centers. After a long and happy marriage of 35 years Milton passed away and a few years later Maria moved to Portland to be closer to her family.

In the last few years of her life there was romantic rekindling with her first husband, Paul (Michael’s father) which brought the love story full circle. Paul passed too soon in 2008 and Maria moved in Columbia Heights where she enjoyed many new friends. Maria has always held the Catholic faith near to her heart and thanks to the support of St Rita’s, made sure she (and her friends) held rosary services and got communion. Parkinson’s forced her to move to the great care at Eugenia Somlea’s Care Home. She leaves a son and daughter-in-law, Michael and Lynda Shay, her grandchildren, Christopher and Laura, and many friends from her time in Chicago, Ames, IA., Bradenton, Fl. and Portland.

A rosary will be held at St Rita Catholic Church in Portland, 8:30 AM Saturday, October 8th, followed by Mass at 9:00 AM. Internment will be at Mt Calvary Cemetery at 11AM. A small family and friends gathering will follow at Michael’s home in Alameda.

Contributions in lieu of flowers can be made to Parkinson’s Resources of Oregon. http://www.parkinsonsresources.org/section.cfm?wSectionID=2845