Obituary of Jonell L. Brown

Jonell L (Cook) Brown, Masonic Village of Burlington NJ, born June 5, 1934, passed peacefully into eternal rest on April 18, 2022.

Jonell, oldest daughter to John G and LaVerne W (Douglas) Cook, was born in Stouchsburg, PA. She lived in Reading, PA before moving to Willingboro, NJ in 1965, Springfield Township, NJ in 1986 and Masonic Village of Burlington Township in 2015. She graduated from Reading Senior High School in 1952 and attended St. Joseph Hospital School of Nursing in Reading PA.

Jonell married Bruce L. Brown in 1956 at St. Paul's RC Church in Reading, PA

Jonell was a real friend who was forever performing endless acts of kindness and friendship. She enjoyed working with people and took pride in team accomplishments, no matter if she was leading or following. Jonell was extremely active in Jaycee-ettes, in both the local and state levels through the 1960s & '70s. She served in many officer positions and countless committee chairs where she received several coveted awards.

She continued with volunteer activities as Jacksonville Community Center – Treasurer; New Jersey Key woman club; Friends of Burlington County Library; Forever Young Club; Springfield Township Republican Club; Sacred Heart Widows Group, Mansfield Springfield Sr. Citizens; Honorary member-Willingboro Jaycee-ettes, NJ Jaycee-ettes, South Jersey Blues RV club and Winnebago-Itasca-Travelers (Wit).

Jonell relinquished much of her volunteer work when she moved to Independent Living at the Masonic Village of Burlington, where she enjoyed the friendships of resident and staff. She would often be found in their company singing old classics late into the evenings. Her latest volunteer position was helping with the facility's "Treasure Trove"

She was employed by Burlington County Board of Social Services and retired in 1997. She was a member of Sacred Heart Church, Mt Holly, NJ. Among her many interests she enjoyed reading, crossword puzzles, friends, and family.

Predeceased by father, John G. Cook; mother, LaVerne W. Born; stepmother, Thelma D. (Anderson) Cook McConnell; beloved husband of 44 years, Bruce L. Brown (died 9-1-00); daughter, Tracy Starr Brown; brother, John G. Cook; sisters, Judith A (Cook) Kovalik, and Jolinda R. (Cook) Huber.

Survived by sons, Bruce Douglas Brown and wife, Janice F. (Myers) Brown of Lumberton, NJ; Scott Michael Brown and wife Andrea J. (Torre) Brown of Burlington, NJ; granddaughters, Nicole Cecelia Brown of Tempe, AZ and Katelyn Margaret (Brown) and Timothy J Sharpe of Willow Grove, PA; Great Granddaughters, Ayla Jonell Sharpe and Eden Virginia Sharpe; Sister, Joan A. (Cook) Gnau of Reading, Pa; stepbrother, Robert McConnell, PA; special cousin, Georgeanne (Hohl) Rothenberger, cousins, nieces, nephews and extended families and many dear friends.

Visitation will be held April 25, 2022 at Sacred Heart Church in Mt Holly, 260 High St. Mount Holly, NJ 08060 at

10 AM followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11 AM. Please click on the following link for directions to the church : https://parishofsacredheart.org/directions

Interment will be Tuesday April 26, 2022, 10am at Gethsemane Cemetery 3139 Kutztown Rd. Reading, PA 19605.

Family requests that good deeds and random acts of kindness be performed in her name as remembrances of her life.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Masonic Charity Foundation of NJ. Please click on the following link to donate : https://www.njmasonic.org/giving/