Obituary of Elizabeth Helen Browne

Elizabeth Helen Browne Obituary

(Sept 18, 1940-February 19, 2024)

Elizabeth Browne was called home to our Lord after being under a brief care of Good Shepherd Hospice at Mercy Hospital in Rockville Center on Monday, February 19, 2024 at the age of 83 surrounded by her loving family after a long illness stemming from spinal surgery in 2009.

Elizabeth grew up in Bayside, NY, where she was the eldest of three children. Her father, Michael Joseph Browne was the chief accountant at Bohack, and her mother Mary Katherine (neé Cassidy) Browne was a homemaker. Both of Elizabeth’s parents hailed from County Mayo, Ireland. Elizabeth was predeceased from her two brothers Joseph Anthony Browne in 1976, Michael Patrick Browne in 2011 and ex-husband John Michael Paterno in 2017. Elizabeth is survived by her devoted twin daughters, Florencann Paterno, and Mariann Simms (husband Kevin Simms and cherished grandchildren Madeline Elizabeth Simms and William Lawrence Simms. Elizabeth also leaves numerous extended family from her maternal side in England.

Elizabeth graduated Sacred Heart Catholic Academy in Bayside, NY in 1954 and then graduated from Bayside High School in 1958. Upon graduation Elizabeth went onto Nursing School at Wyckoff Heights School of Nursing in Brooklyn and graduated in 1960 with her LPN. It was there when she met her future husband John Michael Paterno and they were married in 1961 at Sacred Heart RC Church in Bayside, NY. In 1963 Elizabeth gave birth to twins Florencann and Mariann, both named after their respective paternal and maternal grandmothers.

Elizabeth was a lifelong learner and furthered her education by attending Farmingdale Community College and earned her Associate Degree in Recreational Sports in 1971 and then King Park Psychiatric Hospital School of Nursing and graduated in 1976 with her RN degree. In 1978 Elizabeth was accepted on an academic scholarship to Stony Brook University School of Nursing and graduated in 1982 with her BS in Nursing. Elizabeth earned Her MS degree in Psychology at New York Institute of Technology in 1991. Elizabeth worked at both Kings Park Psychiatric Hospital and Pilgrim Psychiatric Hospital in a supervisory role as a Nurse Administrator and retired in 2001. Elizabeth was loved by her patients and staff because of her kindness to her patients, sadly many who didn’t even have families to visit them.

Friends and family may pay their respects at Fairchild Sons Funeral Home at 1570 Northern Boulevard, Manhasset 11030 on Friday, March 8, 2024h from 4-8pm. A funeral mass will be held at 10am on Saturday, March 9, 2024 at St. Peter of Alcantara Roman Catholic Church on 1327 Pt. Washington Blvd in Pt. Washington, NY 11050. Following the funeral Elizabeth will be interred at Mount St. Mary’s Cemetery 172-00 Booth Memorial Ave Flushing, NY 11365. A celebration of Elizabeth’s life will be at Kevin and Mariann Simms residence at 7 South Farm Road Sands Point, NY 11050 from 2-6pm.

Elizabeth’s family was everything to her and made everyone feel loved unconditionally. She has left her twin daughter, son-in-law and grandchildren a blueprint on how to live a life of grace, joy, compassion and faith. Elizabeth lived a beautiful life but suffered years in debilitating pain and will be missed dearly. May Elizabeth find eternal rest and her soul at peace with our Lord as an angel to watch over her loving family.

A special request from Elizabeth’s family is to do a random act of kindness to someone in need.