Sunday's Obituary - Thomas Joseph Brown Sr

Thomas Brown Sr and Catherine Ryan nee Brown

 
"Thos. J. Brown Taken In Death

Thomas J. Brown, of 505 West Broad street, one of Hazleton's most prominent citizens, died this morning at 7:10 o'clock at St. Joseph Hospital.  Ill for a time, he had entered the hospital a month ago.

At last night's banquet of Hazleton Council 442, Knights of Columbus, at the Altamont, he was mentioned as one of the honorary life-member of that order who had been associated with the council for more than fifty years and to whom tribute was paid.

A son of Neil and Nancy McCoy Brown, he was born in this city, where he had spent his entire life.

Prior to his retirement ten years ago, he had been engaged as engineer by the G. B. Markle Coal Co. and the Jeddo-Highland Coal Co. for 42 years.

A devout Roman Catholic, he was a member of St. Gabriel's church and the Holy Name Society.

Mr. Brown was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Barrett Brown, ten years ago.

Surviving are these children:  Marian V. Brown, member of the HHS faculty and dramatic director for many years; Edward a member of the Grebey Jr. High School teaching staff; Thomas, of Elmira, N. Y., and Walter, and instructor in the public schools of Philadelphia.  There are five grandchildren.  Two nephews, Rev. John Brown, of Pinehurst, N. C., and Rev. Aloysius McElwee, for any years a chaplain in the United States Army, and recently assigned to a post in Mississippi, also survive.

The funeral will be held from the Boyle funeral home on Friday morning at 9 o'clock.  Solemn high mass will be offered up in St. Gabriel's church at 9:30 and burial will be in the parish cemetery.

Friends may call at the funeral home on Wednesday and Thursday from 2 to 4, and 7 to 10 p. m."

"Today's Funerals

Thomas J. Brown of 505 West Broad street, retired engineer for the Jeddo-Highland Coal Co. who died Tuesday at St. Joseph Hospital, was buried this morning from the Boyle funeral home.  Rev. Aloysius McElwee, Chaplain-Major of the United States Army at Fort Devens, Mass., and a nephew of the deceased, was celebrant of a solemn high mass in St. Gabriel's church.  Assisting at the mass were Rev. Eugene R. Moran, deacon, Rev. Paul J. Purcell, sub-deacon.  Rt. Rev. Monsignor Dennis J. Kane, and Rev. Gerald Conahan, the latter of Scranton, were seated in the sanctuary.  Burial was in St. Gabriel's cemetery with Father McElwee, assisted by Father Moran, giving the blessing at the grave.  Pallbearers were John Gallagher, William Halton, Peter McCoy, Daniel Meehan, Connie McHugh and James McKelvey."

Thomas Brown Sr was my great grandfather.  The articles certainly have enough wonderful clues to help further my research.  Was Peter McCoy a cousin?  It was his mother's maiden name and getting past her is one of my brick walls!  I'll have to see what I can do able using this information to scale it in the near future!