Obituary of Cassandra Gale Brown

Cassandra (Cassie) Gale Brown died peacefully in her Chapel Hill home on September 24th.  Cassie was the daughter of Duane Brown (step mother Sandra) of Hillsborough, NC and Linda (Freeman) Brown of Bethlehem, PA.  She was born in Henry County, IN in 1961 and graduated in the 1980 Chapel Hill Senior High School Class.  She received a BA in Economics and Finance from Simmons College (now Simmons University), Boston, MA in 1987.

Cassie's adult life was not an easy one as she faced chronic health issues.  The last eight years, after an initial bout of shingles, she suffered increasingly with debilitating pain, mobility disability and more illnesses.  But Cassie took life's lemons and made lemonade no matter her health limitations.  She had several home and personal improvement projects underway prior to her death.  Perseverance was her most remarkable characteristic.  And in spite of her own life's challenges her home helpers noted she always wanted to know "how are you (and your pets)", always expressing interest in their lives.  Perhaps it could be considered a miracle that Cassie lived almost 59 years.  As a toddler, being held by her mother and looking out a window (probably at cats) at her great grandfather's home in IN, she escaped unscathed as they plummeted together 15 feet to the bottom of an old cistern covered over with wood that had rotted from the moisture below.  

Cassie loved home, her cats, her 2004 Prius, technology, the Lord of the Rings trilogy, the Outer Banks (OBX), pelicans, tiny houses and mimosas.  Before she became home bound Cassie had her very own very unique sense of style when she was "out and about".  She had plans to get back to the what she called her "girly-girl" self.

Cassie's family is very grateful for the care and friendship of Heather McVicker (Furry Little Feet Pet Sitting), Eileen Rice (care.com: medical transport and home help) and A Helping Hand for helping Cassie maintain a home for her kitty family and remain independent.  The USA health care system overall failed Cassie for years and years but grateful thanks go to Drs. Akhter, Lahlow, Rogers, Schilke and Wunnava for Cassie's care in her last two years after she returned to Chapel Hill.  Special thanks go to the Chapel Hill Police Department Crisis Unit for their extreme kindness in meeting and supporting Cassie's mother when she arrived in Chapel Hill and to Walker's Funeral Home for for their special kindness.

Survivors:  Cassie's parents survive her. Her most beloved survivors are her three rescued cats:  Niblet, Bella and Fiona.  Sibling survivors are Kindra S. Walker (Allentown, PA), half sister Tamara Keefer (Hillsborough, NC) and step brother Jeffrey Brown (Hillsborough, NC and two nieces and a nephew. 

There will be no formal service for Cassie.  A magnolia tree tree has been planted in Cassie's memory and some of her remains will go to the OBX and back to the sea.  One of her favorite home displays said:  "My heart sleeps by the sea". The following poems capture the spirit of Cassie:  The Hopi Prayer and the poem "The French Gardener" from the book by S. Montefiore.

If you choose to honor Cassie's memory with a charitable donation the AVMF, the Veterinary Care Charitable Fund, would be especially thoughtful.  The funds help those of limited means who rely on their companion pets but whose beloved pets need veterinary service.   Their pets can receive care assistance through Chapel Hill Mobil Veterinary Housecalls.  Here is the direct link for the charity:

 https://www.vccfund.org/forms/donation-form/?ref=184&company=Chapel%20Hill%20Mobile%20Veterinary%20Housecalls

Walker’s Funeral Home in Chapel Hill is assisting the family.