Martha J. Browne

Martha Browne passed away on December 18, 2021, at Hanna HealthCare Center, at Longwood at Oakmont. Born on February 7, 1926, Martha lived a long life, defined by a strong belief in not coloring between the lines. A gifted artist, she produced beautiful pieces in many media including paint, weaving, fabric art, and photography. She was artist-in-residence and spearheaded the integration of arts into the curriculum at Shady Lane school, which was founded by Fred Rogers in the 1960’s. She later had her own business selling hand-painted fabrics featuring brilliant colors that were never confined by lines. On a trip to Montreal in the 1960s she discovered the taste of French cooking and her family and friends were the beneficiaries of the culinary interest and skills she developed from that encounter. The family fondly remembers summers spent at a ranch outside of Aspen, Colorado where the love for natural beauty and classical music Martha shared with her husband Bill were nourished by the beauty of the mountains and concerts at the Aspen Music Festival.Since moving to Longwood in 1998 Martha taught art classes, served as a Hospice volunteer, and created a photo-essay of images of the residents of Longwood. She also practiced yoga and folk-dancing well into her 80’s. In addition to art, she was passionate about literature. She attended and taught literature classes for many years at Osher Lifelong Learning Institute. She also led a book class at Longwood, and had been recently been trying to decide on the next book she would teach when classes opened up again.But her primary passions were her long-term friendships and her family. Some of her final words were to say that her new great granddaughter Charlotte was that best thing that had happened in recent years. Martha was preceded in death by her husband of 63 years, Bill Browne, and her beloved granddaughter Emily. She is survived by her three daughters, (Cindy, Becky, and Sara), and their husbands (Neil, Dave, and Paul), three grandchildren (John and his wife Kristen, Rachel, and Matt) and of course, Charlotte. The family wishes to thank all the kind people at Longwood at Oakmont who helped and cared for her and her family over the many years she made her home there.Martha’s razor-sharp wit and sardonic sense of humor but most especially her keen interest in and concern for those around her, will be sorely missed. Arrangements are private and entrusted to English Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Inc., 378 Maryland Ave., Oakmont, PA 15139. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Presbyterian Senior Care Foundation at https://givetosrcare.org (Please note in Memory of Martha Browne on donations).

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