" Ann had a marked impact on my life and I treasured her friendship. I was the family babysitter for 6 years and witnessed the birth of Mary, Chris and Paul,as I watched Tom, Jim, John and Dick grow to be fine men. Life took me to Alaska, where I raised two sons and have spent my entire life. Her legacy will live on, as she was by far one of the most remarkable women I have ever known. God bless her and keep her. My condolences to the family. Judy Haugen Doyon"
In loving memory of
Ann Brownell
December 10, 1929 - April 22, 2018
Ann Linden Brownell, St. Charles, died Sunday, April 22, 2018 at Whitewater Health Services in St. Charles. She was 88.
Ann was born in Winona, on December 10, 1929, to Oliver N. and Sarah (Snyder) Linden. She was raised in Winona and graduated from Winona Senior High School in 1947. She attended the College of St. Theresa in Winona and then graduated from the University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy, in Minneapolis, in 1951.
She married Melvin (Mel) Russell Brownell at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Winona on November 10, 1952. They lived in Winona from 1952 to 1955 while Mel worked at Ted Maier Drug.
In 1955, Mel and Ann purchased Anderson Drug in St. Charles. They owned and operated Brownell Drug, at 925 Whitewater Ave., St. Charles, from 1955 to 1992.
Ann worked at the drugstore in Jasper, Minnesota, for a short time before marriage, at the Winona General Hospital Pharmacy, and as a relief pharmacist at Brownell Drug.
She is survived by six children: Tom (Ann) Brownell, Oakton, VA, Jim (Renee Brownlee) Brownell, Chanhassen, MN, Richard (Serena) Brownell, New York, NY, Mary Andrew, Libertyville, IL, Chris (Andrea Walczak) Brownell, Oconomowoc, WI, Paul (Selina Jackson) Brownell, Chevy Chase, MD, 12 grandchildren: Catherine (Bud) Brownell Wykoff, Greg (Polly) Brownell, Mark (Margaret) Brownell, Megan (Kevin) Brownell Vickerman, Abby (Max Kes) Brownell, Parker Brownell, Margaret Andrew, Laura Andrew, Nick Brownell, Michaela Brownell, Julia Brownell, Lauren Brownell, and 6 great-grandchildren: Seamus Brownell, Kaitlin Wykoff, Sarah Wykoff, Jack Brownell, Claire Brownell and Emilia Vickerman. She is also survived by two brothers-in-law and four sisters-in-law.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her sister, Sarah Linden Jonas, in 2008, her son, John Brownell, in 1990, her husband, Mel, in 2000, her daughter-in-law, Janet (Laurent) Brownell, in 2005, and her son-in-law, Tom Andrew, in 2012.
She served on the following civic boards: St. Charles Public Library Board, St. Charles School Board, St. Charles Foundation for Academic Excellence Board, Friends of the St. Charles Library Board and Winona Historical Society Board.
She also served on a number of civic and church committees: First Swimming Pool Building Committee, Aquatic Center Building Committee, St. Charles Library Expansion Committee, the St. Charles Borromeo Church Finance Council, the St. Charles CCW and St. Jude's Unit, the Rosary Society and the Laotian and Vietnamese Settlement Committees.
A Funeral Mass for Ann will be 11 a.m. Saturday at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church with the Reverend Tim Biren officiating. Burial will follow in Calvary Cemetery. Friends may call at the church from 5-8 p.m. Friday and 10 - 11 a.m. Saturday. Please share a memory of Ann at her on-line guestbook and view her video tribute, when it becomes available at www.hofffuneral.com. Hoff Funeral Service of St. Charles is assisting the family with arrangements.
Memorials are preferred to: St. Charles Foundation for Academic Excellence, St. Charles Borromeo Building fund or Scholarship fund, Friends of the St. Charles Library, Seasons Hospice, or donor's choice. Mass intentions are welcome as well.
Tributes
"So very sorry for your loss. We had the Cozy Café right next to the drugstore and would often go in for something we needed or just medical advice. Both Mel and Ann were always so kind to me as a 10th grader. "
"Sincere condolences to the Brownell family. So many memories of my Godmother Ann and you all. You are in my prayers. Lori Wright "
"To the Brownell Family: I am deeply sad and sorry for your loss! She is our loss, too! I would like to make a brief tribute to this wonderful lady who we loved and what she meant to me and my family. Ann and 4 other families (late Connie Searcy, late Bob Hartzell, Doris Elenfield, and Wayne Bier?) of Saint Charles sponsored 4 Laotian families from a refugee camp in Thailand. On November 16, 1979 my family, the Louprasong arrived to our new home in the great community of Saint Charles. Our journey is one of "HOPE" and "INSPIRATION". Ann and our sponsor families were our beacon of hope! Ann worked tirelessly to help us settle into our new lives and beginning. She listened with her heart to our many concerns through an interpreter and have made many sacrifices to ensure that all of our needs are met. Ann loved her Laotian families and was proud of our endeavors and successes. Our successes is one of the many success stories of Ann. Thank you for your love for us and humanity! Your sacrifices did not go unnoticed nor in vain. Because of your kind act, "look how far we have come...Never forget" We love you Ann! Respectfully, Bounlay Louprasong and the Louprasong Family."
"She was such a wonderful and sweet person. Her and my grandma were the reason why I started the RCIA program and converted to catholic. She was a positive motivator and mentor. She always brought joy to me seeing her sitting in the front row of church. She will be missed. My deepest sympathy to the family and may she Rest In Peace. Ashly Hernandez "
"Such a sweet sweet lady. She will be missed. May she Rest In Peace! Jason Polzin"
"May she rest in peace. Our deepest sympathy to Ann's Family. Our older kids grew up together, went to school and played together. May God Bless You All. Tom and Olivia Heim"
"Ann was a special friend and neighbor of my Aunt Alice. Blessed be her memory."
"I remember Ann well. She was a classmate of mine in Pharmacy School . May she rest in peace. Jerry Landherr"
"I am so sorry for your loss of Ann. She was a very special lady and I will miss her a lot. She had so a quiet but comforting way about her and she always had a smile. Our City has lost a truly remarkable lady but heaven has certainly gained an angel! God Bless you Ann!!"
"Thoughts and prayers to the Brownell family. Ann's memory will live on in the hearts of many in our St. Charles community for many years to come. She was such a lovely lady! ~Fran & Dawn Rainey"
"I am sorry to hear of the loss of your mother. Ann was a special person. Sending prayers to you all"
"My condolences to the family. My husband and I first met Ann when her/Peggy Henry and Fran Goodrich visited us at our house when we first moved to SC. They talked to us about the town and the offerings of the church. Heaven just got another angel."
"My thoughts & prayers go out to the Brownell family, Ann was one of the sweetest ladies I have ever known. We ran in to her one day at Mayo when Phil was going in for chemo & she said she had prayed the rosary for him on her way up. After I moved to AZ she would call & check on me to see how o was doing. I will miss her. Barb Berends"
"My condolences to Ann?s family. She was a lovely person dedicated to her faith, family and community. May she Rest In Peace."