Marlene Testa Brown

Marlene Testa Brown, age 73, of Kennett Square, PA passed away at home on Friday, May 27, 2022 after a lengthy battle with cancer.  Marlene was born on December 27, 1948 in Wilmington, DE.   She was the faithful and loving wife of Thomas J. Brown for whom she shared 52 years of marriage.  She was pre-deceased by her parents, Jimmy and Dolly Testa; stepfather, Emilio Mazza; brother, Harry Testa and sister in-law, Linda Testa.  She was the mother of two sons, Tony (Kristy) Brown and Rich Brown both of Kennett Square.  She was the ever-present Mommom to four grandchildren, Josh, Jake, Sammy and Ellie.  Additionally she is survived by sister, Patty Thompson (Ted); sister in-law, Kathy Corkadel (Bill) and numerous nieces, nephews, great nieces, nephews, cousins, as well as Godmother to many.   

Marlene attended St. Patrick Catholic School through 8th grade before entering Kennett High School.  It was there that she played basketball, ran track, and began dating Tom.  She graduated from KHS in 1966 where she was the class historian, and was voted female athlete of the year.  She went on to attend Temple School of Nursing where she continued to play basketball and graduated as an RN in 1969.  While at Temple, she met and maintained friendships with several classmates that would remain life- long friends.  Marlene returned to school to complete her goal of receiving her BS in Nursing from West Chester University in 2004. 

Marlene started her career at North Eastern Hospital in Philadelphia in 1969.  She and Tom were married in June of 1970.  They moved to Durham, NC and she began work at Watts Hospital, and later worked in OBGYN in Chapel Hill, NC.  Marlene and Tom returned to the Kennett Square Area in 1977, and she went to work at Riddle Hospital as a nurse in labor and delivery.  When Bowling Green Inn Rehabilitation Center in Toughkenomen opened in the late 1980’s she began and worked there for over a decade.  Marlene moved on to Christiana Health Care, as a case manager and then on to the Helen F. Graham Cancer, where she worked as a nurse navigator from time it opened until she retired in 2014.  Even after retirement, she could not give up nursing and returned to work part time at Linden Hall in Kennett Square. 

Marlene most enjoyed spending time with extensive family. She enjoyed exercising, traveling, cooking, and taking care of others.  She was a devoted parishioner of St. Patrick Catholic Church of Kennett Square for her entire life and was a part of the “Reach More” group, as well as singing with the Guitar Group. 

A Funeral Mass will be offered to celebrate the life of Marlene at 11:00 AM on Friday, June 3, 2022 at St. Patrick Catholic Church, 212 Meredith Street, Kennett Square, PA 19348.  Visitation with the family and a luncheon will immediately following the Funeral Mass at the Red Clay Room, 423 Dalmatian Street, Kennett Square, PA 19348.

The Funeral Mass will be livestreamed.  Please click on the following link to view: 

 https://venue.streamspot.com/66c95b9b

Marlene was admired and respected as a Nurse, Mother, friend, and as a patient herself.  In Lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her name to Helen F. Graham Cancer Center – Special Needs or Delaware Hospice.   

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