Vivian “Joann” Brown, 87

Vivian “Joann” Brown passed away peacefully at Morning Breeze Nursing Care under Hospice Care on January 23, 2024. A graduate of Greensburg High School, Class of 1954. She married her high school sweetheart, Duane K. Brown, on her 18th birthday. Joann moved her family to California in 1966 for her child’s health concerns and remained in San Diego County until her retirement in 2001. While in Indiana, she primarily worked in seamstress, clerk and waitressing positions. Upon arriving in California, she secured work as a housekeeper at a elite mental hospital. She worked her way up in the business department obtaining the title of Senior Admissions Clerk and eventually obtained the title of Senior Billing Clerk. Upon retirement, she returned to her hometown of Greensburg until the winters in Indiana became too harsh for her and moved next door to her youngest daughter in Havelock, North Carolina. She remained in NC until she started showing signs of dementia and returned to Greensburg to reside at Crown Pointe Assisted Living Retirement Community. As her illness progressed, she was relocated to Morning Breeze Nursing Care facility. She was visited weekly by her brother, Larry, and sister-in-law, Susie throughout her time in Greensburg.
She was preceded in death by her parents, James “Howard” Bower and Alberta Bower, her ex-husband, Duane K. Brown, her older brother, Donald Bower, sister-in-law, Margaret Bower, and grandson, Glenn Bryan Bailey. She is survived by her four daughters and sons-in-law, Belinda (David) Bratcher, Charlene (Ralph) Bennett, Darlene (Mark) Anderson, and Christine (John) Zell. She is also survived by her younger brother, Larry Bower, and sister-in-law, Susie Bower. She has six surviving grandchildren and husbands thereof, Sarah (Phillip) Oberg, Mary (Devin) Solie, Justin Anderson, Trisha Anderson, Katrina (Dennis) Fleming, and Jennifer Andrews; and 12 surviving great-grandchildren -Weston, Chloe and Myles Oberg, Halle, Talon, Nora and Emery Solie, Anessa Anderson, Joshua and Kaylee McGovern, and Madison and Jacob Andrews.
The family would like to express thanks to the wonderful staff at Crown Pointe Assisted Living – Greensburg, Morning Breeze Retirement Care facility – Greensburg, and Franciscan Health (Saint Francis Hospital) – Indianapolis for the care and attention provided to our mother, sister, grandmother and great-grandmother. Online condolences can be made to the family at www.gilliland-howe.com