Blanche Cecelia Fenwick Brown (Age 95) of Bowie, Maryland formerly of Spring Hill, Maryland.

Obituary

Blanche Cecelia (Fenwick) Brown, daughter of the late Mamie Knott Fenwick and Leo Fenwick, was born on September 7, 1917 in Newport, Maryland. She departed this life on January 26, 2013 at her daughter's residence in Bowie, Maryland.

Blanche was united in marriage with the late George Edward Brown on September 17, 1938. He preceded her in death in 1991. They had two children, Mary Catherine Lumpkin and George Alexander Brown.

She was preceded in death by her sisters, Josephine Short, Madeline Bush, Leona Yates and Christine Myles and her brothers, Theodore Fenwick, Clarence Fenwick and Leon Fenwick.
Blanche was educated in the Charles County Maryland Public School System and went on to lead a life that demonstrated her personal commitment to helping others and a deep devotion to the Catholic faith. A longtime member of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in La Plata, Maryland, Blanche was also a member of the Knights of St John's International Ladies Auxiliary #301 since 1954, as well as the Sacred Heart Church Senior Sodality.

Blanche worked for Archbishop Neale Catholic School for more than 10 years and was lovingly dedicated to her job as a Senior Companion with the Southern Maryland Tri-County Community Action, Inc., Senior Companion Program for 28 years.

Though she was very active outside her home, Blanche took immense pleasure in leading a simple and quiet home life. Aside from never missing an episode of Wheel of Fortune or Jeopardy, Blanche loved most tending to her modest flower garden and oddly enough, washing and folding clothes. In fact, though her adoring husband, George, had installed a more modern electric washing machine and dryer in their home, she regularly pulled out her trusty, old wringer washer and always hung everything out to dry, rarely, if ever, using the electric dryer. She always carefully folded each piece with precision and was known, without fail, to visit with her son's family in the evenings, with the sole and distinct purpose of folding his family's laundry too.

Blanche was a loving mother and grandmother who cherished her children and grandchildren. She was also devoted to the care of her niece, Shirley Myles, and nephew, Bernard Myles, following the death of their mother, her sister, Leona. Also, after the death of her sister, Josephine, she became devoted to helping with the care of Josephine's children, James, Cecil, Gilbert, Varie and Cecelia.
Blanche will be deeply missed by all who knew her. She leaves to cherish her memory her daughter, Mary Catherine Lumpkin, her son, George Alexander Brown (Vivian), four (4) grandchildren; Nicole Smith (La Quane), Lisa Brown, Kelly Ross (Kipling) and Brian Brown (Kimberlee); seven (7) great grandchildren, Briana Brown, Nia Smith, Marley Ross, Bailey Ross, Bryce Brown, Daniel Duncan and Julian Duncan, nieces, nephews and a host of other relatives and dear friends.

A viewing will be held from 8:30am until Mass of Christian Burial at 10am on Monday, February 4, 2013 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 201 St. Mary's Avenue, La Plata, MD 20646. Interment, Church Cemetery.

Arrangements entrusted to THORNTON Funeral Home, P.A., Indian Head, MD.