Mary Brown

Mary Brown (nee Warriner) was born in Stratford, Ontario. She was raised, in her words “a Roman Catholic by devout parents, devoted teachers, and committed priests.” It was the foundation upon which she built her life.

Her accomplishments were many.

After graduating as the Gold Medallist from St. Michael’s College at the University of Toronto in 1951 she married Pat Brown and together they raised 6 children.

When her youngest was in high school, Mary began another Chapter in her life in public service; first at the University of Toronto and soon after at the Ontario Film Board. In her role as Chair of the Film Board from 1979-1986 she became a loud and vocal spokesperson against pornography and the sexual exploitation of children in film. Her voice brought awareness to the issue both nationally and internationally as well as the derision of many who opposed what they called censorship. In 1983 she was the recipient of the Women of Distinction Award for this work and had made more than 400 public appearances to bring attention to the need to protect children from exploitation in film.

Her work in Public Service continued in 1989 when she was appointed Manager of Public Education and Volunteerism in the provincial Government’s newly established office for senior’s issues. As with her role at the Film Board, she said she felt called to do this work. Under her direction, her department, in partnership with community leaders, developed and implemented more than fifty programs to improve the quality of life and prolong the independence of seniors living in the community. Some of these programs were adapted for use in Japan, Australia, New Zealand, the United States, Sweden, and India. One was formally recognized by the United Nations as an outstanding educational tool, suitable for worldwide distribution. In 1992 in recognition of this, she won the Coopers and Lybrand IPAC Award for Canada for Managerial Excellence.

She returned once again to the workplace in 1998 for a further 3 years as President of J.P Brown and Associates, the firm founded by her late husband J.P Brown.

Throughout her life, Mary was also active with many volunteer organizations, with the Church and in her community.

Among the volunteer awards of which she was particularly proud are the Chief Barker’s Award for outstanding service in 1994 for her work with Variety, a children’s charity , and the Victorian Order of Nurses’ Volunteer of Distinction Award in 1998 for her work in palliative care.

Her formal service to the Church which spanned decades, included work as a Member of the Board of Catholic Charities, on the committee for Catholic Church extension, as a Board member of the Metropolitan Catholic High School Commission and as a Member of the Board of the National Catholic Broadcasting Council.

She also served as a Senator at St Michael’s College, on the Board of Directors of the University of Toronto Alumni Association, and on the President’s Advisory Committee. In 1995 the University of Toronto publicly recognized her extraordinary service by designating her as the recipient of a 1995 Arbor Award.

Her significant contributions to public service and generous volunteer and professional involvement also earned her the position of Honorary Fellow by the Senate of the University of St. Michaels’ College in 2000- the highest award bestowed by the College.

Throughout her life, Mary sought opportunities to help and to give back - to her family, to her community, to her friends and to her neighbours. When she received her award from St, Michael’ College they described her as “a woman of Christian principle and courage, an example of devotion to family life, the Church, to her friends, to public service, and, through generous and professional involvement, to the welfare of those in need…”.

Throughout her life, Mary has provided us with a model of selfless love, service and most of all Faith.

She also taught us that family is everything.

She is survived by her five children Catherine (Steve), John (Kathryn), Mark (Irene), Greg (Karen), Chris (Shannon), her 16 grandchildren, Jordan (Meena), Jessica (Lincoln), Cameron, Madeleine (Chris), Rachel (Denis), Michael, Dianna (Nick), Isabelle (bec), Celyn, Erin, David, Ryan, Tate, Natalie, Danielle and John, and 5 great-grandchildren Layla, Isaiah, Austin, James and Raeya. Her husband Pat and son Michael predeceased her.

The family recognizes with gratitude the loving and compassionate care of Mary’s caregivers Edith and Colleen.

A visitation for Mary will be held Wednesday, August 9, 2023 from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM at Blessed Trinity Parish Church, 3220 Bayview Ave, North York, ON M2M 3R7, followed by a funeral mass from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM. Reception to follow in Parish Hall.

In lieu of flowers, donations to any of the following organizations are appreciated: Covenant House Toronto, The Shepherds’ Trust, and Canadian Catholic Broadcasting Council.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.kanejerrett-thornhill.ca for the Brown family.