CUMBERLAND — Irene Liberty Brown, 91, of Cumberland, died peacefully Aug. 31 at Sedgewood Commons in Falmouth.

She was born in North Yarmouth on July 1, 1924, the 17th of 18 children of Maria (Fortier) and Alfred Liberty. Irene graduated from Greely Institute in 1943.

She married Robert Brown, of Cumberland, in October 1943. She quickly embraced life on his family dairy farm, raising three children, gardening, canning and even drivings tractors to help sustain the farm.

When their first son, Ken, was born with severe disabilities from cerebral palsy, Brown and her husband cared for him at home for 56 years. Love of family was always the central focus of her life. ?

A competitive basketball player in high school, Brown had a lifelong love of sports. With full determination, she enjoyed playing in alumni games as well as medal competitions in the Senior Olympics. She enjoyed cross-country skiing, and often challenged her grandchildren to a friendly game of basketball or a foot race. She was also the biggest fan at their own sports events.

Brown was a member of the Cumberland/Falmouth Health Council for many years, and was a communicant of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Yarmouth

She was predeceased by her husband of 57 years, in 1999; her grandson, Ronald Brown Jr., in 1972; and 17 brothers and sisters, including her younger sister, Lillian, on July 3.

She is survived by her son, Kenneth, of Portland; son, Ron and his wife, Sally, of Cumberland; and her daughter, Karen Strattard and her husband, Bruce, of North Yarmouth. She is also survived by her grandchildren: Stuart Brown, his wife, Keri, and their children, Jordan, Caleb, Julia and Claire Irene; Christine Hein, her husband, Peter, and their children, Maddy, Abby, Cam, Eve and Lizzy; Brian Strattard, his wife, Lindsay Strattard, and their children, Alex, Brice, Callie and Aylana; Thomas Strattard, his wife, Erika, and their son, Griffin; and Joseph Strattard, his wife, Lindsay, and their son Finley. Survivors also include a very large extended family of nieces and nephews.??

The Brown family would like to thank the staff at Sedgewood Commons and Life Choice Hospice for the loving and compassionate care of their mother.

A Mass of Christian burial was celebrated Sept. 3 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, in Yarmouth.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made in Brown’s memory to The Alzheimer’s Association, Maine Chapter, 383 U.S. Route 1, Suite 2C, Scarborough, ME 04074.

Brown

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