Claude BROWN

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BROWN: Claude (Dobridge) Brown, age 88 years, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, May 20, 2020 at Hamiota Health Center with her husband and members of her family by her side following a lengthy battle with dementia. Claude Guilbault was born and raised in Montreal, Quebec where she met and married her first husband Nelson Dobridge, on April 2, 1953. She worked as a stenographer prior to starting their family in 1955. Their family life would become more mobile in 1957 when Nelson joined the Canadian Armed Forces resulting in numerous postings requiring moves across the country. Claude embraced raising their 5 young children and maintaining order “among the ranks” in each new location, including during the three 6 month peace keeping tours that took Nelson overseas. A memorable moment for our Mom was the day she took the children with her to pick up Nelson as he returned from one of the overseas tours. As Dad slid into the driver’s seat, one of the children asked Mom “Are you going to let that man drive our car?” Claude enjoyed sewing for her family, knitting, camping and long phone calls in French with relatives in Quebec. Once all the children were attending school, Claude began working outside the home utilizing her typing ability until retiring in 1988. Mom and Dad stayed close to home in the years that followed, celebrating 48 years of marriage just before Nelson passed away in 2001. Mom struggled with a loneliness that her children and grandchildren couldn’t fill until she met Michael Brown. They were married in January 2004. She was predeceased by her parents, two sisters, her in-laws, one infant grandson, one niece and 1st husband Nelson Dobridge. She is survived by husband Michael Brown, and her children Claire (Gerry), Joyce (Stewart), Lynn (Phillip), Ann (Lloyd) and Ian (Donna), nine grandchildren and seventeen great-grandchildren, two nieces and two nephews. A private burial has taken place. For those so desiring, donations may be made in Claude’s memory to First Presbyterian Church, 339-12th Street, Brandon, MB, R7A 4M3.

As published in Brandon Sun on Aug 08, 2020