Mary Anne Wessels Brown, the daughter of Jane and Joe Wessels, was born at home on the farm in Lake Township, Allen County, Indiana, July 16, 1926, and died on February 28, 2021 at the age of 94. She attended St. Patricks Grade School and Arcola High School and was educated to be a teacher at St. Francis College and Ball State University where she met Frank Brown. They raised six children in the house on Lima Road outside of Fort Wayne, IN., and belonged to St. Vincents Catholic Church for 53 years before moving to Texas. In March of 2004, they moved to Christus St. Josephs Village in Coppell, TX., where their daughter Paula Willett helped care for Mary Anne and Frank. Mary Anne loved teaching and while raising her family she was also a constant volunteer, using her talents as a Girl Scout Leader, a 4-H Leader, a member of the St. Vincent de Paul Society in St. Vincents Parish and in the Fort Wayne District Council. She helped refugees from Cambodia and Viet Nam when they came to Fort Wayne, teaching them English, helping them learn the culture, become citizens, and get their licenses. She, along with her daughter Paula and her husband Gary Willett, helped Paulas daughter, Heather Jane Link with the Home Schooling of four great-grandchildren in Coppell. She was always active in St. Vincent's Church, and at St. Josephs Village, encouraging people by leading the daily Rosary, being a Homebound Extra-Ordinary Eucharistic Minister to Catholics in a nursing home and at home, being Sacristan, leading Divine Mercy Prayers, and fostering Parish Eucharistic Adoration. She enjoyed genealogy and growing plants. Mary Anne was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Frank, their son, William Brown, sisters Adelaide Wessels and Betty Richardville (Bernie), and granddaughter Angela Griffith. She is survived by her children Joseph (Phyllis) Brown of Muncie, IN., Paula (Gary) Willett of Irving, TX, Mary Margaret Brown (Norman Metzger), of Zionsville, IN., Frank (Denise) Brown of Garland, TX, James (Barbara) Brown of Middletown, OH and her daughter-in-law Bev Eley of Decatur, IN. She has 16 grandchildren, 13 great grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. A memorial Mass will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday, March 15, 2021 at St. Joseph Chapel, 1205 East Sandy Lake Road, Coppell, TX 75019 with Father Cliff Smith, Celebrant. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held in St. Vincents Church in Fort Wayne, Indiana at 12:30 p.m. on March 20, 2021. Burial will be in the family plot of St. Patricks Cemetery on Bass Road near Arcola, IN. In lieu of flowers, the family prefers donations to be made to Saint Vincent de Paul Society in Mary Anne Browns honor. Saint Vincent de Paul Society of Fort Wayne, IN, 1502 East Wallen Road, Fort Wayne, IN 46825, https://svdpsfw.org/donate SERVICES Memorial Mass

Monday, March 15, 2021 10:30 AM

Saint Joseph Chapel 1205 East Sandy Lake Road Coppell, TX 75019

Mass of Christian Burial

Saturday, March 20, 2021 12:30 PM

St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church 1502 East Wallen Road Fort Wayne, Indiana 46825

Committal Service

Saturday, March 20, 2021 1:30 PM

Saint Patricks Cemetery Bass Road Arcola, Indiana