Montville bids farewell to cherished friend, neighbour
Vale Gloria (Glor) Helena Brown from Cate Patterson
GLORIA (GLOR) HELENA Brown has been a much-loved member of the Montville community for 33 years. Glor, pictured, was an engaging conversationalist and charming hostess; her understated elegance and quiet dignity, were trademark Glor qualities that endeared her to all her friends.
Glor was a Sydney girl who happily settled into country living on the Blackall Range. Gloria was born on 23 July, 1928 in Narrandera NSW, and was the seventh of nine children. Her parents were Alfred and Annette Marshall. Alfred was a successful motor trader and the family moved to Vaucluse in the 1930s and later to Epping. Gloria attended Methodist Ladies College, Burwood with her younger sister.
MLC gave the girls opportunities to explore their interests and to develop their sense of self-worth and individual character. Gloria met Stanley Louis Brown a handsome young sergeant with brown eyes and black hair who at 5ft 9 inches compared to Gloria’s petite frame fitted her dream of a tall, dark, accomplished young man. Stan had returned from New Guinea after serving as Accounts Officer and been demobbed in June 1946. Before the war he had been a banker for the Bank of Australasia living with his family in Epping. He was almost eight years older than Gloria and was ready to settle down. They married at Burwood in 1950.
Their first home in Culgoa Avenue, Eastwood was where they raised their family; Judith, born 1954 and Roger, born 1956. Whilst a stay-at-home mum, Gloria became involved with meals-on-wheels and took up golf. The family moved to Marwood Drive, Beecroft in 1968. Gloria joined Oatlands Golf Club where Stan was already a member and they enjoyed many happy years golfing with friends. They also enjoyed numerous holidays during winter months to the Sunshine Coast and in 1989, on one of these trips, purchased a house along Western Avenue, Montville, with their dear family friend Jim Granger, and moved there permanently in 1991.
The house was the original home of Sue and Joe Delaney, who had moved further along Western Avenue. Gloria soon became firm friends with Sue, and developed a strong friendship group all along the street. Gloria loved her house and garden and spent many hours enjoying her view to the coast. She named the house Oatlands – after the Golf Club that had been like a second home when she lived in Sydney.
However, when Stan suffered a stroke in early 1993, she dedicated her time to caring for him until his death aged 77 years in 1998. Gloria continued to live at the house and Jim, who had lost his wife, also shared the house. Following Jim’s death in 2012, Gloria was thrilled when her daughter Judith along with her husband Stephen moved up to Dulong in early 2014.
Her son Roger moved in with her in 2015. Gloria was kept busy with five grandchildren and eventually 11 great grandchildren. Gloria’s children nurtured their close family and the younger generations enjoyed their time with their Nanny Glor and Glor Glor.
Memories include visiting Gloria and helping eradicate cane toads, learning how to bake sponge cakes, jam rolls and pavlovas – all Gloria specialties. Gloria would always make the pavlova for the Western Avenue Melbourne Cup party, and no one arrived dressed more elegantly than Gloria.
Gloria loved entertaining, cooking and sewing, particularly making teddy bears and quilting. She adored her family and through her time with each one they have learned to embrace each moment, find joy in the little things, and to express gratitude to those they hold dear.
They are valuable life lessons – Gloria’s legacy to her family and to her friends who will always miss her bright smile, and remember her with deep affection.
