Brown, Rosemary "Rose"
Rosemary “Rose” Emma Brown passed away at the young age of 52 on Friday, April 28, 2023 in her home in West Hartford after a valiant fight against cancer. Rose was born on July 17, 1970 to Jerry and Kathleen (Keating) Brown in Stratford, CT. The third of six children, Rose grew up in Stratford and Meriden then moved in 2008 to West Hartford, where much of her family still resides.
Rose had a lifelong passion to secure fairness in employee and employer relations and to protect the rights of workers and of children. She spent much of her adult life dedicated to these goals, earning a Bachelor's Degree in Labor Studies and a Master's Degree in Labor Relations, Human Resources and Public Personnel Administration. Rose spent many years as an Organizer and Vice President for SEIU Local 1199, overseeing a regional office and negotiating for better benefits and working conditions for healthcare workers. She loved her work with members, leading strikes, demonstrations and campaigns for justice. After her union work, Rose enjoyed several years working in Human Resources in School and State Agencies focused on the education and protection of children.
Rose's favorite hobbies and pastimes included doting on her two Labrador retrievers, Zoey and Darcy, following the NY Yankees, driving sports cars and all manner of fun she could orchestrate with her nieces and nephews. Rose was a wonderful aunt who enjoyed babysitting, coloring, playing board games, baking and any kind of special activity she could muster for the kids. Rose made epic Easter baskets and ice cream sundaes and loved painting pottery at The Claypen. Rose is survived by her son Matthew; her father, Jerry Brown; her five siblings and their spouses, Jerry Brown Jr., Ed Brown (Melissa), Tom Brown (Marva), John Brown and Hannah Roberts, and Jean Mari (Rich). She will be dearly missed by her 12 nieces, nephews and godchildren: Lee, Ellis and Jenny Brown; Peter and Theo Brown; Grace and Finley McKinnon; Maya and Anjali Brown; Abby and Katie Mari; Luisa McDaniel. Rose also leaves behind a large family of cousins, aunts and uncles who were a daily source of inspiration and joy for Rose during her 18 months of illness. Rose was blessed to have close friends and cousins with whom she shared lifelong friendships dear to her heart.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, (May 4), at the Church of St. Peter Claver, 47 Pleasant Street, West Hartford. Burial will follow in Fairview Cemetery, West Hartford. Calling hours will be Wednesday, (May 3) from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Sheehan Hilborn Breen Funeral Home, 1084 New Britain Avenue, West Hartford. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the American Cancer Society. Online condolences may be made at www. SheehanHilbornBreen.com
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