Obituary of Sr. Barbara Brown

Sister Barbara Brown, 86, formerly Sister Michael Rose, a Sister of Charity of Saint Elizabeth, died
Wednesday, May 3, 2023 at McAuley Hall Health Care Center, Watchung, NJ.
Sister Barbara was born in East Orange, New Jersey, the daughter of Michael and Rose (Fehrenbach)
Brown. She entered the Sisters of Charity on March 6, 1955, and was a member for 68 years.
Sister Barbara graduated from the College of Saint Elizabeth, Convent Station, NJ (Saint Elizabeth
University) with a B.S. degree in Elementary Education. Sister Barbara served in the ministry of
education in New Jersey and the Virgin Islands. She served as a teacher at Sacred Heart School,
Bloomfield; Holy Trinity Elementary School, Fort Lee; St. Mary Orphanage, Newark; St. John School,
Paterson; St. Brendan School, Clifton; Saints Peter and Paul School, St. Thomas, Virgin Islands;
Sacred Heart School, New Brunswick; Sacred Heart School, Vailsburg; St. John School, Orange; St.
George School, Paterson; Immaculate Conception School, Montclair; and St. Philip the Apostle
School, Saddle Brook.
Following her years of teaching ministry Sister Barbara volunteered at Josephine’s Place in Elizabeth,
NJ, teaching English as a Second Language. When Sister Barbara moved to Saint Anne Villa in 2011,
she continued this ministry providing support to staff members preparing for citizenship in the United
States. When the Villa closed in 2021 Sister Barbara moved to McAuley Hall Health Care Center
where she resided until her death.
Sister Barbara was known for her deep faith, her devotion to the Blessed Mother and her love of
animals. Sister Barbara was deeply concerned about the suffering of migrant families arriving in the
United States. She was happy to adopt Manny, the Villa cat when the previous owner passed away.
Sister Barbara also cared for the Villa birds; she enjoyed her time with them each day.
Sister Barbara was predeceased by her brother Michael, her sister Marguerite Prepiak and her nephew
Michael Noble. She is survived by the Sisters of Charity, her sister-in-law Linda Brown, nieces,
nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews, and cousins.
The wake for Sister Barbara Brown will be held in Holy Family Chapel, Convent Station, NJ on
Wednesday, May 10, 2023, from 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at
11:00 a.m. Burial will be in Holy Family Cemetery, Convent Station immediately following the Mass.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of S.J. Priola Parsippany Funeral Service, Lake
Hiawatha, NJ.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in memory of Sister Barbara Brown to the Sisters of Charity
Development Fund, P.O. Box 476, Convent Station, NJ, 07961-0476 would be appreciated.