Lupe M. Browne

Lupe Matamoros Browne

Passed away from natural causes on March 17, 2012 in St. Vincent Hospital in Indianapolis Indiana. The daughter of Rosario M. Fresquez, Lupe was born in Mexico City on February 17, 1944. As children, Rosario took Lupe and her brother Rudy from Mexico to live and grow up in Roswell New Mexico after becoming naturalized U.S. citizens. She attended Roswell High School and then the University of New Mexico. There she met her husband James R. Browne while he was in law school. They married in Albuquerque, gave birth to their son James Jr. and moved back to Marion Indiana. Lupe's daughter Sofia and son Gabriel were born in Marion. While raising her children, Mrs. Browne was civically involved working on the board with the local Community Foundation. She was a member of Meshingomesia Country Club and the Tri Kappa sorority. Lupe taught Spanish at Bennett High School, started Marion's first co-op preschool, organized a flea market and worked with Hispanic migrant farm laborers. A devoted Christian, she attended Lakeview Wesleyan Church. Lupe was proud of her Hispanic heritage, sharing its food, music and dance with fellow Hoosiers. Mrs. Browne delighted in her Marion friendships, but her children came first. She moved to Carmel Indiana after her husband passed to live closer to her three children and six grandchildren. Her humor, courage and guidance are missed deeply.

Family and friends will gather at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, 5692 N. Central Ave, in Indianapolis on March 21 between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. Lupe's funeral service is scheduled at IHM for March 22 at 10:30 a.m. You are invited to visit the website http://www.leppertmortuary.com where you may share a memory of Lupe, sign the guest book or arrange for a memorial contribution, in lieu of flowers, to the Community Foundation of Grant County.