Sr. Corrine Brown, formerly Sr. Georgeanne, age 91 of the Srs. of St. Francis in Oldenburg, died Monday, February 5, 2018 at the convent. Born May 2, 1926 in Dayton, Ohio, she is the daughter of Mary Ann (Nee: Paulick) and Isador Brown. She was the fourth of five children.
Corrine attended Holy Family Grade School and Villa Juliann (now Chaminade Julienne High School) in Dayton before enrolling at Immaculate Conception Academy in Oldenburg, where she made her decision to join the Srs. of St. Francis. She taught at schools in Indiana and Ohio for 25 years, while continuing her education to earn her BS and Masters in education before going on to earn her degree in theological studies in 1982. After earning her degree, she would serve as parish minister and administrator for churches in Ohio, Iowa and Wisconsin. In 1993 she accepted the position of Director of Chaplains at St. Vincent Hospital in Jacksonville, Florida and in 1998 received her certification as a Chaplain from the National Association of Catholic Chaplains. She would finish her career at Mercy Hospital in the Cincinnati area before retiring in 2008.
She put great value on receiving an education and passed her love for learning to the students she taught. She loved her community of Sisters, her family and fresh flowers. Family members visited often and would bring her fresh flowers to adorn her room. During her tenure at St. Vincent’s Hospital, she shared in an interview, “There is a great hunger for spiritual experiences today, a searching for what will bring substance to one’s life. Those who minister must have listening ears and a welcoming heart. As a chaplain, I pray my heart may be big enough to embrace those physically hurting and emotionally distressed.”
She is survived by nieces and nephews. In addition to her parents, she is also preceded in death by sisters Dorothy Zimmer, Lilyan Whittington, Helen Stelzer and brother Paul Brown. Visitation is Monday, February 12th, from 1 – 3 p.m. at the Srs. of St. Francis Chapel. Funeral services follow at 3 p.m. with Rev. Robert Weakley O.F.M. officiating and burial in the convent cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Srs. of St. Francis, P.O. Box 100, Oldenburg, Indiana, 47036 (www.OldenburgFranciscans.org). Weigel Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.