Joan Marie Brown

Joan Marie (Heitzman) Brown, 92, of West Chester, passed away on Friday, November 12, 2021 at her residence. She was the wife of the late Samuel Potter Brown, III, who recently passed away just two weeks ago on the 28th of October. They shared 66 years of marriage.

Born in Trenton, NJ on September 18, 1929, she was the daughter of the late Frank and Anna (Cleary) Heitzman. Joan attended Cathedral Girls High School, graduating with the class of 1947. She attended Notre Dame of Maryland, and eventually finished out her Bachelor of Arts Degree at University of Pennsylvania in 1951. She worked for American Airlines as a stewardess until her marriage to Sam in 1955. Joan then earned her Master’s Degree in 1965 from West Chester and Villanova Universities. Joan worked alongside her husband , maintaining the greenhouses and handling all the finances at his tree nursery and garden center business: Sam Brown Nursery in Malvern, PA. Joan was an avid tennis player, a loving and devoted mother to her three boys, and loved spending time with her many grandchildren.

Joan is survived by her three sons, Samuel Potter Brown of West Chester, Dr. William Francis Brown of Forest, VA and Matthew Heitzman Brown of Lancaster; her sister, Anne M. Heitzman of Pennington, NJ; 14 grandchildren; and 4 great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her sister, Sally Heitzman Conlon of Metuchen, NJ.

Services will be held privately with the family.

To plant a beautiful memorial tree in memory of Joan Marie Brown, please visit our Tree Store.