DURHAM, N.C. – Adele E. Brown died Feb. 23, 2011, at her home, as a result of cancer. She was born Dec. 26, 1926, in Chicago, the daughter of George J. Egner and Gertrude Schwiderski Egner.
She attended Chicago schools, including Morgan Park Junior College, and in 1948 married Gerald A. Brown. They spent their married life in Maine, where Gerald became manager of Fleet Bank, Greenville, and Adele worked 21 years for the U.S. Postal Service. After Gerald’s death in 1986, Adele retired as postmaster of Greenville Junction and moved to North Carolina. During her active retirement, Adele volunteered at Duke Hospital, learned ballroom dancing, sewed, mastered many aspects of her home computer, became an antiques dealer, found strength in the faith and fellowship of her church community, and traveled extensively. She visited many areas in this country and Europe, the Caribbean, the Panama Canal and Russia. She achieved a lifelong dream by standing on the Great Wall of China.
Adele is survived by her daughter and son and their families, Kathleen R. Brown and William D. Ellenson of Durham, N.C., and Steven A. and Lenore Brown and their children, Alexander, Trevor and Ian, of Fairlee, Vt. She also leaves a brother, George J. Egner and his wife, Lorraine, of Arlington, Ill.; her niece, Miriam Egner Johnson; her nephew, Mark Egner; a great-niece and four great-nephews. Adele’s indomitable spirit and zest for life touched many people. She will be missed by Bobbie G. Roberts Sr. of Carrboro, N.C.; Armando Aseneta and Sandro Virag of Hilton Head, S.C.; friends at Resurrection United Methodist Church; customers and co-workers at the Antique Mall, Hillsborough, N.C.; and dancers at Fred Astaire Dance Studio, Durham, N.C. The family thanks Duke Hospice, Stay at Home Senior Care, Craige Summers of Edward Jones, and Stephen Rhudy of Walker, Lambe, Rhudy & Costley for their professional and compassionate assistance.
At Adele’s request, no funeral service will be held.
Friends are invited to attend a coffee reception and informal celebration 6:30-8 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 27, at Resurrection United Methodist Church, 4705 Old Chapel Hill Road, Durham, N.C. Interment of her ashes will take place during the summer at Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Dexter. Contributions in Adele’s memory may be made to the charity of choice. Organizations and causes of interest to Adele include Resurrection United Methodist Church; Charles A. Dean Memorial Hospital, Greenville; the arts, educational institutions and the eradication of world hunger. The family is being assisted in Durham, N.C., by Clements Funeral Service, Inc.