| Mary Hammond Fletcher Brown |
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MARY HAMMOND FLETCHER BROWN
(Age 90) "Mumsie" Mary Hammond Brown,
a native Washingtonian, dedicated wife and loving
mother, died peacefully on October 30, 2011,
surrounded by her five children, seven of her
grandchildren, and two of her great-grandsons.
Mumsie was one of seven children born to
Richmond Viers Claggett Fletcher and John Fletcher.
She enjoyed telling people that she was her father's 13th child and that she
was born on Friday the 13th . She attended Alice Deal Junior High School and
Central High School in the District of Columbia.
She married Austin Stanley Brown and began her family, raising four
daughters and one son. When first married, Mary and Austin lived in
Greenbelt, MD, later moving to Bellemead, MD, and then to Bowie, MD.
While her children were young, Mumsie was active in her children's activities
and especially enjoying serving as a Cub Scout and Boy Scout Den Mother.
She was very creative in arranging activities for her scout groups. She was
also involved in St. Mary's Catholic Church, where she served on the Ladies'
Sodality and operated the religious articles stand. She and Austin chaperoned
St. Mary's CYO dances for teenagers.
Austin, who loved rock and roll, served as disc jockey, and Mumsie
handled admission and sold the soft drinks. Most of the teenagers who
attended the dances knew Mary and Austin and were very fond of them.
Mumsie was also on St. Mary's Bowling Team and had several trophies to
prove her skills. Another of her hobbies was making ceramics, and she gave
all of her children and grandchildren her hand-made ceramic pieces. She loved
any kind of card game, was a very sharp player, and never missed an
opportunity to play with anyone, and most times would win. She loved to
walk and was very proud of the 18 or so certificates she had received for
walking over the Chesapeake Bay Bridge on Bay Appreciation Day. When
she lived in Bowie, the entire Brown clan, dubbed "The Sunday Lunch
Bunch," would come for dinner at her home, known as "Club 3618." Mumsie
had a real talent for making delicious and nutritious meals for an extended
family of as many as twenty people. She truly loved being surrounded by her
family.
In 1968, after Austin's death, Mumsie remained in her home in Bowie and
continued with her Sunday afternoon meals for her family for many years.
After her children were grown, Mary worked at the U.S. Catholic Conference
and later at the World Bank where she had many friends. Eventually, she
retired from her job at the World Bank in order to spend more time with her
grandchildren. Mumsie's life revolved around her children and grandchildren,
and she would often make the rounds among all five children, spending a
month or more with each. She frequently vacationed with her children and
grandchildren in Europe, Asia, the Caribbean, Canada, and Ocean City, MD.
In 2008, Mumsie fell in her yard and seriously injured her back. After
that, she moved from Bowie to Rockville, but still made the rounds visiting
her five children because they were her favorite thing about life. She always
said "All I need is my family."
Mumsie is survived by her five children: Anita Catterton (Gary Posey) of
Dover, DE; Austin "Buddy" (Ochi) Brown of Bradenton, FL; Agnes M.
Brown (Joseph Wassell) of Washington, DC; Ana Blumetti of Myrtle Beach,
SC; and Maryann Grimm of Rockville, MD. She is also survived by her nine
grandchildren: Stephen (Leigh) Catterton of Elkton, MD; Charles Salsgiver of
Pasedena, MD; Michael (Rebekah) Salsgiver of Herndon, VA; Tim Salsgiver
of Arlington, VA; Jacqueline Salsgiver of Pawleys Island, SC; Matthew
(Rebecca) Grimm of Vienna, VA; Kristin (John) Allison of Winchester, VA;
Hazel (Don) Cozzetto of Manila, Philippines; Ronald (Virginia) Brown of
Cape Coral, FL. She is also survived by three great-grandsons, Sean and Colin
Catterton, and Domenik Merrikh, and two great-granddaughters, Jennifer
Brown and Danielle Cozzetto.
Mumsie is remembered by her family as a consummate mother and
care-giver and staunch supporter of her children and grand-children in every
aspect of their lives. Mumsie was the glue that held the family together, and
she will be forever missed.
Friends may call at BEALL FUNERAL HOME, 6512 NW Crain Hwy.
(Rte. 3 South), Bowie, "MD on Thursday, November 3, 2011 from 7 to 9
p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be offered St. Pius X Catholic Church,
14720 Annapolis Rd., Bowie, MD on Friday, November 4, 2011 at 10 a.m.
Interment at Fort Lincoln Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Salvation Army in
memory of Mary H. Brown. Please view and sign the family's guestbook at:
www.beallfuneral.com
Published in The Washington Post on November 2, 2011
(Age 90) "Mumsie" Mary Hammond Brown,
a native Washingtonian, dedicated wife and loving
mother, died peacefully on October 30, 2011,
surrounded by her five children, seven of her
grandchildren, and two of her great-grandsons.
Mumsie was one of seven children born to
Richmond Viers Claggett Fletcher and John Fletcher.
She enjoyed telling people that she was her father's 13th child and that she
was born on Friday the 13th . She attended Alice Deal Junior High School and
Central High School in the District of Columbia.
She married Austin Stanley Brown and began her family, raising four
daughters and one son. When first married, Mary and Austin lived in
Greenbelt, MD, later moving to Bellemead, MD, and then to Bowie, MD.
While her children were young, Mumsie was active in her children's activities
and especially enjoying serving as a Cub Scout and Boy Scout Den Mother.
She was very creative in arranging activities for her scout groups. She was
also involved in St. Mary's Catholic Church, where she served on the Ladies'
Sodality and operated the religious articles stand. She and Austin chaperoned
St. Mary's CYO dances for teenagers.
Austin, who loved rock and roll, served as disc jockey, and Mumsie
handled admission and sold the soft drinks. Most of the teenagers who
attended the dances knew Mary and Austin and were very fond of them.
Mumsie was also on St. Mary's Bowling Team and had several trophies to
prove her skills. Another of her hobbies was making ceramics, and she gave
all of her children and grandchildren her hand-made ceramic pieces. She loved
any kind of card game, was a very sharp player, and never missed an
opportunity to play with anyone, and most times would win. She loved to
walk and was very proud of the 18 or so certificates she had received for
walking over the Chesapeake Bay Bridge on Bay Appreciation Day. When
she lived in Bowie, the entire Brown clan, dubbed "The Sunday Lunch
Bunch," would come for dinner at her home, known as "Club 3618." Mumsie
had a real talent for making delicious and nutritious meals for an extended
family of as many as twenty people. She truly loved being surrounded by her
family.
In 1968, after Austin's death, Mumsie remained in her home in Bowie and
continued with her Sunday afternoon meals for her family for many years.
After her children were grown, Mary worked at the U.S. Catholic Conference
and later at the World Bank where she had many friends. Eventually, she
retired from her job at the World Bank in order to spend more time with her
grandchildren. Mumsie's life revolved around her children and grandchildren,
and she would often make the rounds among all five children, spending a
month or more with each. She frequently vacationed with her children and
grandchildren in Europe, Asia, the Caribbean, Canada, and Ocean City, MD.
In 2008, Mumsie fell in her yard and seriously injured her back. After
that, she moved from Bowie to Rockville, but still made the rounds visiting
her five children because they were her favorite thing about life. She always
said "All I need is my family."
Mumsie is survived by her five children: Anita Catterton (Gary Posey) of
Dover, DE; Austin "Buddy" (Ochi) Brown of Bradenton, FL; Agnes M.
Brown (Joseph Wassell) of Washington, DC; Ana Blumetti of Myrtle Beach,
SC; and Maryann Grimm of Rockville, MD. She is also survived by her nine
grandchildren: Stephen (Leigh) Catterton of Elkton, MD; Charles Salsgiver of
Pasedena, MD; Michael (Rebekah) Salsgiver of Herndon, VA; Tim Salsgiver
of Arlington, VA; Jacqueline Salsgiver of Pawleys Island, SC; Matthew
(Rebecca) Grimm of Vienna, VA; Kristin (John) Allison of Winchester, VA;
Hazel (Don) Cozzetto of Manila, Philippines; Ronald (Virginia) Brown of
Cape Coral, FL. She is also survived by three great-grandsons, Sean and Colin
Catterton, and Domenik Merrikh, and two great-granddaughters, Jennifer
Brown and Danielle Cozzetto.
Mumsie is remembered by her family as a consummate mother and
care-giver and staunch supporter of her children and grand-children in every
aspect of their lives. Mumsie was the glue that held the family together, and
she will be forever missed.
Friends may call at BEALL FUNERAL HOME, 6512 NW Crain Hwy.
(Rte. 3 South), Bowie, "MD on Thursday, November 3, 2011 from 7 to 9
p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be offered St. Pius X Catholic Church,
14720 Annapolis Rd., Bowie, MD on Friday, November 4, 2011 at 10 a.m.
Interment at Fort Lincoln Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Salvation Army in
memory of Mary H. Brown. Please view and sign the family's guestbook at:
www.beallfuneral.com
Published in The Washington Post on November 2, 2011
