Patricia E. Browne

Patricia Elizabeth Browne (Pat, Patty Boyle, "Boochie") passed on March 28, 2020, at the age of 79 years. She was surrounded by family and love as she battled Acute Myeloid Leukemia. Her courage and determination were a living example of her roots and faith. She leaves behind her husband, John Browne; five children, Mike, John, Jeanne, Julie, and Joe; their spouses Amy, Wendy, Juventino Bizarro, Chris Giebel, and Heather; twelve grandchildren, Annie, Shelly, Ryan, Macie, Melissa, Emily, Alex, George, Ben, Sam, Charlie, and Sophia; and two sisters, Mary Ann Boncelet and Barbara Stroup. She is preceded in death by her parents, Patrick and Winifred Kennedy Boyle; brother Daniel Boyle; sisters Catherine Boyle VanArsdale and Jeanne Boyle Oldweiler, and grandson, David Browne.

Pat was born in Stratton, Nebraska in 1940. She was profoundly proud of her Nebraska roots and her early years on her parent's farm. She attended a one room school house with eight other children; three of which were her own siblings. Each day she rode her horse "Spotty" to school and slapped his rear to send him home. She loved family gatherings and monthly trips into McCook to visit her Grandmother and the special treat of a Jiffy Burger and float at Sehnert's Bakery. After her father passed away, she moved with her family to McCook, Nebraska where she attended St. Patrick's school, McCook High School, and McCook Community College. While in College Pat worked as a Bell Telephone switchboard operator and in customer service at the Fox Theater. While in Community college, Pat majored in Nutrition Science.

After college, Pat moved to Denver, Colorado where she worked at General Electric, and as the office assistant manager at the Centre Theater. She met and married a Brooklyn, New York transplant John Browne in 1963. They settled in Lakewood but did not leave the farm far behind, continuing to raise farm animals on their suburban, acre plot of land. To the embarrassment of their teenage children, occasionally they received calls from the Villa Italia mall to retrieve cows that would escape their pen.

In addition to working as the secretary for John's commercial painting business (Browne Brother's Painting), Pat worked tirelessly, purchasing and running eight apartment buildings, while also finding time to work as a commercial and residential real estate broker. She volunteered in classrooms, supported early morning paper routes, and maintained a constant rotation of her children's' and grandchildren's' sports and activities. She filled our lives with holiday traditions, Catholic faith, the best parties, family and friends, road trip adventures, camping, and fishing.

Pat loved to travel, so she took her family on many fun filled, family cross-country road trips packed into the family wagon and the family camper. Later in life, she worked as a reservationist for Continental airlines, which allowed her to continue her travels to more far off places. In retirement, Pat and John split their time between, Manzanillo, Mexico, Denver, and Seattle. Pat especially enjoyed their RV travels in the southwest and the friends she and John made along the way.

Pat is a strong Nebraska Woman. She battled like few people could and defied the odds for 16 months. In the process, she left us all with a final lesson in courage, determination, and love. We are profoundly saddened by her loss but take solace in knowing she is reunited with family and friends and preparing a place for us for when we meet again.

"May the road rise to meet you
May the wind be always at your back
May the sun shine warm upon your face
The rains fall soft upon your fields
And, until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of HIS hand"

Those who wish, in lieu of flowers, may donate to the Vitalant Blood Center.

Due to the pandemic, a funeral service will be held at Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church, for Pat's Immediate family only.

The family hopes to have A Celebration of Life gathering at a later date, to be determined.