Dorothy Wheeler Brown of Needham died peacefully in her home at North Hill in Needham on Saturday May 15 after a brief bout with cancer. She was 84 years old. Dorothy (most commonly known as “Diddy”) was born in New York City in 1920 and was raised in Cambridge Massachusetts and Chatham, New York. She attended Buckingham School and graduated from Smith College in 1941. In 1943 she married Hathorn Parker Brown and they moved to Needham where she lived until her death. During her years in Needham, Diddy volunteered her services in many capacities. For many years she helped run the thrift shop for the Peter Bent Brigham Hospital. She was president of the Visiting Nurses Association of Needham and along with Hathorn and others, was instrumental in bringing Hospice to Needham. She was a longtime volunteer in the coffee shop at the Glover Hospital and a member of the Friends of the Needham Public Library where she helped run the annual book sale. From 1966 to 1975 Diddy worked at Pine Manor Junior College in Chestnut Hill as an infirmary secretary. In addition to her volunteer activities Diddy played a formidable game of tennis well into her seventies. Her extensive reading habits and beautiful letters to family and friends came from her love of literature and the written word. She will be greatly missed. The beloved wife of the late Hathorn Parker Brown MD, she is survived by her three daughters Nancy Slimak of North Stonington, CT., Edie Brown of Greenwich, NY and Dee Brown of Silver Springs MD. She is also survived by 4 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren. A memorial service for Diddy will be held at the Christ Episcopal Church, 1132 Highland Avenue Needham on Tuesday May 25 at 11:00 AM. There will be a tea afterwards in the church hall. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Hospice who so lovingly helped her through her final journey. Their address is: VNA Care Network- Hospice/ Needham, 175 Highland Avenue Needham MA 02424.Arrangements by the Eaton Funeral Home 1351 Highland Avenue Needham.