Joan Brown, 79, lifelong resident of Seneca Falls, passed after a brief illness, with her family at her side, at FF Thompson Hospital in Canandaigua, on Tuesday, April 7th, 2026. Her family will greet family and friends on Wednesday, April 15th from 5:00 – 7:00 PM at Doran Funeral Home, 4 East Bayard St., Seneca Falls. Her Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Thursday, April 16th at 10:00 AM at St. Patrick’s Church, 97 West Bayard St., Seneca Falls. Interment will follow in St. Columbkille Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations in memory may be directed to either St. Columbkille Cemetery, or the American Cancer Society.

Joan was born in Seneca Falls, daughter of the late Lawrence and Helen (Murphy) Walters. She grew up in Seneca Falls and graduated from Mynderse Academy. Not long after graduating, she met, fell in love with, and married Calvin Brown on November 14th, 1964, at St. Patrick’s Church. The couple celebrated 61 years of marriage this past November.

Joan, or the “Mayor of Garden Street”, as many knew her, was primarily a homemaker. For many years she ran one of the first in-home daycares in Seneca Falls with her sister, and as a result she touched the lives of many of the local children who she was blessed to watch. A woman of strong faith, she was a member of St. Patrick’s Church. She was a very proficient bowler in her younger years and was also an avid bingo player. Later in life, she and Calvin enjoyed travelling and taking cruises all over the world.

A loving wife, mother, grandmother, aunt, and friend; Joan is survived by her husband, Calvin; two grandchildren, Cherise and Jonathan Adams; sister, Dawn Murphy; sisters-in-law, Donna Walters and Linda Zona; brothers-in-law, Dave Parish and Frederick “Buster” (Cynthia) Brown; and several nieces and nephews. In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by her daughter and son-in-law, Jodi (Charles) Thomas; brothers, Lonnie Walters and John “Jack” Walters; and sister, Pat Parish.