Obituary of Elaine E. Brown

Elaine Elizabeth (Gabriel) Brown (1944 – 2024)

On September 2, 2024, we said our last goodbye to Elaine Elizabeth Brown as her soul ascended into Heaven.

Elaine was born November 6, 1944, in Chicago, Illinois. Daughter to Arthur Sr. and Bernice Gabriel, twin sister to Richard Gabriel and younger sister to Arthur Jr.

Elaine grew up on Chicago’s North side, where she graduated from Austin High School in 1962. Her high school years were filled with family gatherings, dancing with friends at Thursday night socials at LaFollette Park and Friday night dances at Austin H.S., ditching classes (which she would tell you about with a laugh), riding The Bobs roller coaster at Riverview Park at Belmont & Western, and traveling with her many friends anywhere they could get to by bus. The friendships she made during these years were loyal and loving and brought her much joy throughout her life.

Elaine was blessed with two children she was very proud of – Kelly Brown Mincica (Lance Hemmerich) and Christopher Brown (Julie) - and five grandchildren that she loved more than anything: Stella Mincica, Abby Brown, Zoe Brown, Sam Brown and Scarlett Mincica. Elaine was also blessed with three bonus-grandchildren: Drew, Zachary, and Dawsyn Hemmerich.

Elaine raised her children in Palatine, Illinois, in the Plum Grove Hills neighborhood, where she loved hosting parties, being ‘the house’ her kids hung out at with their friends and being part of a neighborhood outdoor roller-skating club. Plum Grove Hills is also where she chased the family dog, Rocky, in her station wagon every time he made his escape. As she did in the city, Elaine made and enjoyed many fun and loving lifelong friendships in Palatine.

In her later years, Elaine still liked to have fun! She had a great sense of humor, enjoyed telling stories, loved any music you could dance to, playing (and winning) at cards, decorating, fashion, and good food. She was also a voracious reader who logged each book she read, so she could recommend her favorite authors and titles to her friends.

Elaine was passionate about living her life the way she wanted, and she did just that up to her final day with us.

Elaine was preceded in death by her parents, Arthur Sr. and Bernice Gabriel, and her beloved dog, Buster. In addition to her children and grandchildren, Elaine is survived by her brothers, and many cousins, nieces and nephews. 

As we say goodbye to Elaine, we invite you to join us for a funeral mass at St. Mary of Vernon on Thursday, September 12 at 11:00 AM, with visitation at 10:00 AM. 236 U.S. Highway 45, Indian Creek, Illinois, 60061.

To honor Elaine’s memory, we encourage family and friends to share stories and photos on her memorial page. Just as Elaine always had a story to tell, her spirit lives on in the stories we will share with each other. Each picture and tale brings us closer to the fun and energetic woman we know and love.

In lieu of flowers, memorials made to St. Jude Children’s Hospital (www.stjude.org) would be appreciated.