Marlene Sylvia Brown

Marlene Sylvia Brown, a devoted wife, mother, and lifelong animal lover, passed away peacefully on November 11, 2025, at the age of 86, following an illness. A resident of Shelby Township for over 40 years, Marlene built a life filled with love, family, and dedication to those she cared about most.
Born on March 27, 1939, in Detroit, Michigan, to her parents Benjamin and Jean Wojciechowski, Marlene grew up with a strong work ethic and a caring heart. She graduated from Catholic high school in Detroit and began her career as a bookkeeper before finding her true calling as a wedding coordinator at the Club Monte Carlo in Shelby Township, where she worked for many years until her retirement 15 years ago.
On May 7, 1960, Marlene married the love of her life, James John Brown, and together they shared many wonderful years of marriage, raising their sons and building a home filled with laughter and love. Marlene and James remained devoted to each other until his passing on March 3, 2016.
Outside of her work, Marlene found great joy in breeding dogs-particularly her beloved Bearded Collies, a passion she pursued for more than 30 years. Her compassion for animals reflected the same warmth and loyalty she showed her family and friends.
Marlene is survived by her son, James D. (Tanya) Brown; her sister-in-law, Lorry Cahill; and her niece, Kerri Ann Anderson. She was preceded in death by her husband, James J. Brown; her son, Jeffrey Brown, and her parents Benjamin and Jean Wojciechowski.
Marlene will be remembered for her kind heart, her love of animals, and her deep devotion to her family. Her warmth and strength will be deeply missed by all who knew her.
A committal service for Marlene will be held at 10:30 AM on Wednesday, November 19, 2025 at Great Lakes National Cemetery, 4200 Belford Road, Holly, MI 48442. To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Marlene, please visit our floral store.