Joan H. Brown, 82

MONTEREY, Mass. — Joan Harmon Brown, 82, of Corashire Road in Monterey, Mass., passed away on May 16, 2017, at her home.
 
Born on Dec. 26, 1934 at Geer Hospital in Canann, Conn., she was the adopted daughter of George Arthur and Julia Reed Harmon, who operated cabins and a snack bar in Canaan. She moved to Great Barrington in 1940 with her mother, where she attended the former Bryant School and graduated from the former Searles High School in 1953.
 
Joan was a stay at home mom until she resumed working at the New Marlborough School. She had the opportunity to be the First Congregational Church Secretary and held that position until her retirement.  She had worked as a secretary at Carr Engineering and the A. John Tuller Insurance Agency.
 
Her family was the delight of her life. She would always be found at any event that her children or grandchildren were involved in – particularly sports. Her boys always had her full support in their scholastic or extracurricular activities.
 
She enjoyed visiting and traveling with her husband to a variety of Postmaster and Select Board conferences, as well as family gatherings across the U.S. The only states that she missed visiting were Alaska and North Dakota. After Parkinson's Disease took her mobility she spent most of her days at her home with friends and family.
 
She is survived by her husband of 62 years, Peter S. Brown, at home. The couple was married on December 4, 1954 at the First Congregational Church in Great Barrington. She also leaves three children, Peter Jr. and wife Robin of Tucson, Ariz., David and wife Donna of Monterey, Mass., and Stephen and wife Lynn of Chatham, N.Y.; eight grandchildren, Nathan, Andrew and wife Jusdina, Mark, Jessica, Matthew; Christopher, Alex and Adam; as well as one great-grandson, Asher.

Funeral notice: The family invites everyone to join them for a graveside service on Wednesday, May 24, 2017, at 11 a.m. at Corashire Cemetery in Monterey, Mass. There will be no calling hours.
 
In lieu of flowers donations in memory of Joan may be made to either The American Parkinson Disease Association or The First Congregational Church in Great Barrington through Finnerty & Stevens Funeral Home, 426 Main St., Great Barrington, MA 01230.