WILMINGTON — Kathleen was born in Newark, New Jersey in 1952, the eldest of four children born to Bob and Irene Brown.
Soon after graduating from Belleville High School, she secured employment with the New Jersey telephone company, BellTell, but her undeniable love for her family ultimately led her to relocate in 1971, when her father’s job transferred the rest of the family down the coast to Wilmington, North Carolina.
Wilmington proved to have much to offer Kathleen and she lived a full life. She found love in a Wilmington native and married her husband of 30 years, Gene, in 1978. She also began her lifelong career at Reeds Jewelers, where she worked for 45 years until retirement. At Reeds, she found a career she truly loved and acquired lifelong friends she would remain close to for the rest of her life.
Anyone who had the pleasure of knowing Kathleen, knows that her love for her family was unmatched and on full display at all times. She always looked forward to family events and never missed a special occasion. She was devotedly by her mother’s side through her battle with multiple myeloma cancer, ensuring her mother’s ability to live out the remainder of her life her way, keeping her spirits up and ensuring she always had a fun outing to look forward to. She also found great joy in being an aunt to her niece, Jillian, and nephew, Mark. From the day they were born, she prioritized being present at their special moments, no matter how small, and her welcoming heart and kind soul led her to be known as “Aunt Kathy” by more than just her biological niece and nephew. The unconditional love she showed through her close relationships was a testament to the woman Kathleen was.
She always held a special place in her heart for all animals, donating to animal charities and giving numerous cats furever homes. Upon retirement, she rescued her first dog, who became her final animal companion. His energy and spunk brought excitement to her life and she enjoyed bringing him to the dog park for play dates with his chosen canine friends. She also held a special place in her heart for her dearest friends, and especially enjoyed dinner dates, movie dates, and going on cruises with her best friend.
She had an undeniable passion and talent for cooking and baking, and her mother would refer to her as “our Julia.” Kathleen will always be lovingly remembered as a Thanksgiving legend in the family, preparing a table full of desserts that everyone in attendance anxiously awaited every year. It goes without saying that Thanksgiving will never be the same without her homemade delicacies, made with love, by “Aunt Kathy.”
Kathleen brought sunshine and left a little sparkle everywhere she went. She never missed an opportunity to extend her unconditional love and support to her family and friends, never expecting anything in return. She lived her life treating others with decency and respect, never succumbing to animosity or bitterness. A selfless beacon of light, she shared her kindness, love, wisdom, energy, finances, faith and cheerful spirit to brighten the lives of all those around her, from family to strangers. Her beautiful spirit will forever be remembered and missed by everyone who was blessed to know her.
Kathleen is preceded in death by her husband, Eugene T. Bryant, her father, Robert Sylvester Brown, Jr., her mother, Mary Irene Manning Brown, and her brother, Mark Joseph Brown.
She is survived by her sister, Patricia Brown Sewell, her brother-in-law, Frankie Sewell, her niece, Jillian C.S. Blanchard, and her husband, William D. Blanchard, Jr., her nephew, Mark C. Sewell, and her brother, Robert Sylvester Brown, III.
A Celebration of Life will be held at 11:00AM Saturday, January 25, 2025, at Andrews Valley Chapel, 4108 South College Road, Wilmington, NC 28412.
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