WAYLAND: Bertha E. (Chapman) Brown, 93, died peacefully and comfortably at her Wayland residence surrounded by those she loved on January 17, 2015 following a period of declining health.
She was born in Natick on May 9, 1921 the daughter of the late Fred W. Chapman and Florence (Robie) Chapman.
Bertha is survived by her loving and devoted daughter Patricia A. Borelli of Natick. Cherished grandmother of Elizabeth Borelli-Kurman of Swanzey, NH; Anthony Borelli of Hoepdale; Patricia Cole and her husband Richard Cole of Douglas; Clayton D. Brown, III and his wife Cynthia Brown of Grafton; Jaime Sterling and her husband Michael Sterling of Sandwich and Dennis A. Horne, Jr. and his wife Penney Horne of Burlington. Also survived by 15 great-grandchildren; two great-great grandsons and several nieces and nephews. She was the mother-in-law of Samantha J. Brown of Vero Beach. FL and Dennis A. Horne, Sr. of Wayland. She was the wife of the late Clayton D. Brown, Sr. who died in 1985; mother of the late Clayton D. Brown, Jr. who died in 2006 and Diane L. Horne who died in 2012. Sister of the late Willis Chapman; Fred Chapman; Lillian Rowe; Virginia Wallace and Richard Chapman.
Bertha spent her formative years in Natick and graduated from Natick High School. When she married her husband Clayton, they moved to Wayland where she has resided for the past 75 years.
She was a loving, giving and compassionate woman who cared deeply for the well being of her family and friends. She loved to crochet and made many handmade scarves, mittens and hats for the patients at Metrowest Cancer Care Center. She was an active member of the Wayland Senior Citizens and loved to dance especially line dancing at the Senior Center in Wayland. She was a longtime member of the United Methodist Church in Wayland. Bertha loved to watch the birds on her property especially the red cardinals. Bertha will be remembered for her kindness to others and the love she had for her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great grandsons who were always the center of her daily life.
Visitations will be held on Thursday, January 22, 2015 from 4:00 to 7:00 pm at the John C. Bryant Funeral Home, 56 Pemberton Road (off Rte 30), Wayland.
Private services will be held for her family with the Rev. Ted Crass, Pastor of the Community United Methodist Church, officiating.
Private family burial will follow in the Brown family lot in Dell Park Cemetery in Natick.
In lieu of flowers, her family suggests that memorial gifts in Bertha’s memory may be sent to the Parmenter VNA and Hospice, 266 Cochituate Road, Wayland, MA 01778.