Rebecca S. Brown

July 24, 1931 - Sept. 23, 2017

SOUTH BEND - Rebecca S. Brown, 86, of South Bend, passed from this life peacefully at home surrounded by her family on Saturday, September 23, 2017. She was born July 24, 1931 in Athens, Alabama, to the late Ed and Daisy (Harrison) Patterson. She graduated from Washington High School in 1949, and went onto a career at Associates from 1952 until 1993. While there she received the prestigious Chairman's Award. After retirement she spent many winters in Sebring, Florida and well as Florissant, Colorado. She loved spending time with her family as well as going to the casinos. She enjoyed her special neighbors, Bruce, Jade, Kathy, Richard, Sandy, and Steve and Lea. She was preceded in death by four sisters, Louise Pack, Margaret Vinson, Dorothy Gordon, and Francis Belle, and a brother, James Patterson. She leaves to cherish her memory her husband of 67 years James A. Brown who was the love of her life. She is also survived by a daughter, Brenda (Steve) Merk of Bremen, a son, Larry (Julie) Brown of Chester, Vermont, Four grandchildren, Cassie (Kenny) Bernard of Bremen, Christine Merk of South Bend, Zack (Jennifer) Brown of Portland, Oregon, and Sarah (Jason) Williams of Chester, Vermont, eight great-grandchildren, Jacob and Isabelle Rhodes, Trissa Gayheart, Hallie and Kenlie Cook, Harper and August Williams, Cyrus Brown, and a new baby due in April 2018, two step great-grandchildren, Dalton and Layne Bernard, one sister, Joyce (Kenneth) Vargo of Mishawaka, three brothers, Richard (Carol) Patterson of Mishawaka, David (Dora) Patterson of South Bend, and Wallace (Sharon) Patterson of Mishawaka, brothers-in-law, Milt and Donny Brown, and a sister-in-law, Donna Clapp, and numerous nieces and nephews. She looked out for the little great-grandchildren until her final days and looked forward to her nightly kisses for “Maw Maw”. The family would like to extend a special thank you to the caregivers, Karla Simmons and Terry Stanfield for the care and love they gave. Also the staff at Heartland Hospice and Dr. Thomas Sweeney. Funeral services will be held 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, September 27th, at Welsheimer Family Funeral Home North, 17033 Cleveland Road, with Robert Puhr officiating. Burial will follow at Saint Joseph Valley Memorial Park Cemetery, Granger. Friends may visit with the family from 12 noon Wednesday until the time of the service at 2:00. Memorial contributions may be made to Heartland Hospice, 230 W. Catalpa Drive, Suite D, Mishawaka, IN, 46545, or American Cancer Society, 130 Red Coach Drive, Mishawaka, IN, 46545. Family and friends may leave e-mail condolences at www.welsheimer.com