Helen Virginia Brown
January 6, 2023
Helen Virginia Lowrey Brown, 102, of Honolulu, Hawaii died peacefully at home with her family and two beloved dogs on January 6, 2023. She was under the expert care of Malama Ola Hospice as well as the much-appreciated 10 years of assistance from the Wilson Care Group.
Helen Virginia “Ginna” was born at home in her parents’ New York City apartment on June 25, 1920. She was predeceased by her parents, Mary Louise Black Lowery of New York and Alan Jewett Lowrey of Honolulu; her sister, Patricia Rose Lowrey Hooper; and brother, Charles Frederick Lowrey of San Francisco. She is survived by her sons, Zadoc White Brown, Jr. (Hilary, deceased) and David Tudor Brown; and her daughter, Cynthia Longley Brown Quisenberry (Walter). Two of her sons are deceased, Alan Lowrey Brown and Lawrence Newbold Brown. Grandchildren are Zadoc White Brown III (Stephanie), Brynly Lowrey Brown-Spielman (Aaron), Nanea I’i Brown (Brandon), David Daulton Quisenberry (Erica) and Michael Lawrence Quisenberry. Deceased is her granddaughter, Emalia Alexandra Brown Guard (John). She is also survived by 10 great-grandchildren as well as nieces and nephews in California and New York.
Ginna was born in New York City but grew up from the age of two in San Francisco. She fondly remembered walking across the Golden Gate Bridge when it opened to pedestrians on its first day, May 27, 1937! She attended Miss Burke’s School in San Francisco as well as boarding school in Switzerland, followed by boarding at Madeira School in Greenway, Va., from which she graduated in 1938. In 1940, she graduated from Pine Manor Junior College in Wellesley, Mass.
After many summers visiting her father’s family (including 12 first cousins in Honolulu, Hawaii) she came to Honolulu permanently at the age of 21 when her father, Alan J. Lowrey was recalled to active duty by the US Naval Reserve and was stationed in Honolulu in 1941. In February 1942, two months after the start of World War II, she and Zadoc W. Brown “Zed” were married at St. Andrew’s Cathedral in Honolulu, a marriage that lasted happily for 64 years.
Ginna and Zed had their five children from 1943 to 1954. Their children spent many happy holidays on Oahu, Maui and Hawaii island as Ginna masterminded the gifts, decorations, festive meals, etc. In addition to her family, she was involved in many community organizations including the Bishop Museum, the Honolulu Academy of Arts (Honolulu Museum of Art) and Punahou School as well as being a founding board member of Seabury Hall school on Maui. She was also a very loyal volunteer at Straub Clinic and Hospital and could be found at the information desk every Wednesday for 25 years.
She pursued her deep love of languages, English, French, Spanish, and Hawaiian, and was still conversing in all four into her 102 year. She was able to study Hawaiian at the University of Hawaii, Manoa, with Dr. Samual Elbert in the 1950’s. There were few Hawaiian speakers left at that time, but she felt that, since her husband was one-quarter Hawaiian, she should learn the language, an endeavor she truly loved. She also enrolled in archaeology classes with Dr. Kenneth Emory of Bishop Museum and participated in archeological digs on Oahu in the ‘50s. She found the early history and legends of Hawaii particularly fascinating.
She was an active member of many local organizations: The Outdoor Circle (begun by her paternal grandmother, Cherilla Storrs Lowrey, in 1912), the Mission Houses Society, the Daughters of Hawaii, Punahou School, Bishop Museum, Honolulu Academy of Arts and the Outrigger Canoe Club.
Later in life, she focused on being busy at home on Diamond Head or at the other family properties on Maui and Hawaii island. She was so full of energy, good humor and determination to make every day productive. As she would say, “We need to get with it!” meaning not a moment of life should be wasted. We remember “Mumsie” with such aloha and admiration for a long life, so well-lived. She is truly missed, so, with deep love, we say Aloha Oe and A Hui Hou from all of your family!
Donations in her memory can be made to the Virginia Lowrey Brown fund at The Outdoor Circle, to Na Keiki o Emalia on Maui in memory of Emalia Brown Guard, to the Maunalei Scholarship Fund at Seabury Hall on Maui or to Bishop Museum in memory of both Virginia L. and Zadoc W. Brown.