The Eastwick Press Newspaper

Eastern Rensselaer County's Community Newspaper

Helen Q. Brown

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Petersburgh – Helen Quackenbush Hewitt Brown, 70, a lifelong Petersburgh, NY, resident, died peacefully on Saturday evening, April 2, 2011, at the Hospice Inn at St. Peter’s Hospital in Albany, NY, surrounded by her loving children and grandchildren.
Born April 27, 1940, in Petersburgh, she was the daughter of the late Donald S. and Lydia Quackenbush Hewitt. A 1957 graduate of Hoosick Falls High School, where she was the salutatorian, Helen also graduated from the Albany Medical Center School of Nursing in 1961. A registered nurse for 32 years, Helen retired from the Mary McClellan Hospital of Cambridge, NY, in 1993. She was a member of the Petersburgh Baptist Church. Helen loved long walks and gardening. She was especially fond of her grandchildren, helping to care for them over the years.
Besides her husband, Donald Brown, she is survived by her loving children, Donald F. Brown Jr. and wife Kerri of Millbrook, NY, Denise F. and husband Bill Shumway of Stephentown, NY, Daniel B. Brown and Rachel Williams of Glenville, NY, Dean J. Brown and Ericka Zavada of Prior Lake, MN, and Deborah E. and husband Rich Robison of Austin, TX, her cherished grandchildren, Katerina A. Brown, Tegan H. Shumway, Kaylee M. Brown, Montana K. Brown, Ryan R. Shumway, Macie O. Brown, Cole T. Brown, Branden D. Brown, Abigail V. Robison and Chloe E. Robison, and her siblings, David W. and wife Sandy Hewitt of Petersburgh, Harriet L. and husband Henry Peabody of Cambridge, along with many nieces and nephews. She is pre-deceased by a brother, Donald Seward Hewitt Jr.
Helen’s funeral service was on Thursday, April 7, at 11 am in the Petersburgh Baptist Church where Rev. J. Mark Norlund officiated. Burial followed in the Meadowlawn Cemetery in Petersburgh.
Relatives and friends were invited to the Thomas M. Barber Funeral Home, 66 Armsby Road, Petersburgh, on Wednesday from 4 to 7 pm for visitation.
Helen was very fond of the nursing field. Contributions in her memory may be made to establish a scholarship for a graduating student from the Berlin Central High School who pursues nursing. It can be made payable to Denise Shumway in care of the funeral home, P.O. Box 361, Petersburgh, NY, 12138.