Havana, IL - Carolyn Vera Brown, 79, of Havana passed away at 10:45 am Monday, Nov. 30, 2009 at the Memorial Medical Center in Springfield. She was born April 19, 1939 in Havana the daughter of Raymond and Vera C. Schilling VanderVeen. She married Phillip E. "Gene" Brown June 23, 1962 in Streator, IL and he survives.

She was a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church near Bath, IL, a graduate of Bath Lynchburg High School, she loved the outdoors, but her greatest love was Jesus Lord and Savior. Her next greatest love, Gene, Cherie, Katie and Kristi and she loved her hobbies: fishing, hunting, golfing and working in that order. Carolyn has gone from one home to another home, she will be forever in the hearts of her family-she will be missed, but cherished.

In addition to her husband, Gene, she is survived by one daughter, Cheryl DeWulf of Vergennes, IL, two granddaughters; Katy DeWulf of Louisville, KY and Kristi DeWulf of Vergennes, IL, two sisters; Lila Essig of rural Bath, IL and Evelyn Hawkins of Winter Haven, FL. Several nieces and nephews also survive. She was preceded in death by her parents and one brother, Bernard VanderVeen.

Services will be held at 1:00 pm Friday, Dec. 4, 2009 at St. John’s Lutheran Church near Bath, IL conducted by Pastor Brian Lesemann. Burial will be in the Laurel Hill Cemetery at Havana. Memorial contributions may be made to Mother Charlotte’s Home for Orphans (India) c/o Charlotte Adams, 2908 E. Fort Worth St., Broken Arrow, OK 74014 or the charity of the donor’s choice. Hurley Funeral Home in Havana is in charge of arrangements, online condolences may be sent to the family at www.hurleyfh.com.