A resident of Cape St. Claire in Anne Arundel County since 1976, Joanne M. Brown was born 1931 in McKeesport, Pennsylvania and raised in adjacent Versailles Borough. She graduated from McKeesport High School in 1949, and enrolled in Indiana University of Pennsylvania where she received her bachelor's degree in education.

Her first post-graduate position was teaching fourth grade at the Walnut Grove Elementary School in nearby West Mifflin, PA. She also worked summers at The Daily News in McKeesport, where she met her future husband, George W. Brown. The couple was married in 1957, and by 1960 had their first child, Scott Walker Brown. By then, Joanne had resigned her teaching position in West Mifflin schools, but began tutoring students part time, including at least one developmentally disabled child, and a small group of Southeast Asian war refugees that had limited English language skills. Two years later, the couple's second child, Natalie Joy Brown was born, and Joanne retired temporarily.

In 1976, Mr. Brown landed a management position with an international trade association headquartered in Washington, D.C., forcing the Brown family to move; they made their new home in Cape St. Claire, near Annapolis. Joanne began working briefly in the bookstore of St. John's College, but soon secured a position as a Social Worker with the Maryland Department of Social Services. She later was transferred as a social worker to Crownsville State Hospital, the position she held until she retired in 1996.

Joanne and George had several retirement years when travel lured them to England, France, Germany, Austria, and the Czech Republic, as well as automobile and air travel in North America. But Joanne's health gradually declined making further travel nearly impossible. Joanne was diagnosed with hydrocephalus---and possibly "other neurological conditions"---- and was operated on unsuccessfully.

Joanne died at home July 12, two days after the couple's 58th wedding anniversary. Joanne is survived by her husband, her son Scott of Brooklyn, NY; her daughter Natalie Joy McKnight and Natalie's two daughters Emily Jo and Annie, of Milton, MA.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, contributions be made to Hospice of the Chesapeake, 90 Ritchie Highway, Pasadena, MD 21122.

A Memorial Visitation will be held on Friday, July 17th from 5-8 pm at Barranco & Sons, P.A. Severna Park Funeral Home, 495 Ritchie Hwy, in Severna Park. A Memorial Service on Saturday, July 18th at 1:00 pm at the funeral home. Interment will be private.

Online condolences may be made at www.barrancofuneralhome.com