Obituary of Olive Frances Brown

It is with profound sadness, the family of Olive Frances Brown nee Lockyer age 90, passed peacefully away at Burin Peninsula Health Care Centre surrounded by her loving family on Sunday April 12, 2026.  Olive was a pillar of strength and a true daughter of Newfoundland.

Olive is survived by her children. She was a loving and dedicated mother and grandmother to John Brown, Daphne Murphy (John), Earl Brown, Marlene Miller (John), Kevin Brown (Joan), Juanita Brown-Barrett (Derrick), her precious grandchildren Kevin Murphy (Mandy), Larry Murphy (Trina), Cassandra Miller, John Miller, Patrick Miller, Philip Brown, her great grandchildren Robin & Riley Murphy, Nicholas Kowerchuk, Madison Keeping, Mackenzie Keeping; brothers Earl Lockyer (Grace), Joseph Lockyer (Goldie), sister Janet Clarke(Lloyd), brother-in-law Ellwood Hagard, her special best friend Alice Drake and Janet Hillier whom she often referred to as her adopted daughter plus a large circle of many nieces and nephews and friends.

Olive was pre-deceased by husband Henry Joseph Brown, parents Earl and Caroline Lockyer, parents-in-law Elsie and Henry (Joey) Brown. Olive especially felt the loss of her grandchildren Sarah Brown, Nadine Parsons, Aaron Brown, daughter-in-law Millie Brown, sisters Almyra Haggard, Ann Hillier (Sam), brothers-in-law John Brown (Flo); sisters-in-law Evelyn Brenton (Morris), Mary Reeves (Jim), Barbara McNeil, Annie Lockyer.

 The family would like to offer a special thank-you to the compassionate team who cared for our mother. We are profoundly grateful to Dr. Amanda Coleman and the staff at the Marystown Retirement Centre Joyce, Kyla, Linda, Jennifer, Andrew, Kayla, Shirley and Phoebe. Their care and affection for mom was more than evident as they went above and beyond their care for mom and we are eternally grateful.
 Thank you to the doctors and nurses at the Burin Peninsula Healthcare Centre, who cared for mom not only during this difficult time as well as her health battles throughout the years. Also to the staff at Serenity Funeral Home, thank you for your guidance and kindness throughout the planning process. We are deeply grateful for the exceptional service and for ensuring every detail of the memorial was a beautiful reflection of our mom's life. Your support brought us much-needed comfort when we needed it most."

Mom was born October 30, 1935 to Earl and Caroline Lockyer nee Johnson.   

At the young age of 15, she moved to Burin to work as a servant girl and later at the local fish plant, where she met Henry. Together, they built a life rooted in hard work and devotion. A fiercely protective mother of six, she was immensely proud of her children and adored her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, who were the light of her life. She instilled in all of them a deep love of reading and a firm belief in the importance of an education.
Her hands were rarely still; she found peace in her flowers, gardening, and knitting. She cherished her time at the cabin, and loved being on the boat visiting communities around the coast. Her spirit of service was a gift to her community; she was a dedicated volunteer who found great joy in helping out at her church.
In her last years, she enjoyed visiting the Oldest Colony Trust Building in Burin to listen to music and looked forward to the entertainment and church services at the retirement home. To all who knew her, she was the strongest woman they ever met—intelligent, resilient, and deeply loved by all.

The family will be receiving friends at Serenity Funeral Home, 95 Main Street, Burin, for the visitation and funeral services of Olive and Henry as follows: 

Wednesday, April 15, 2026 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM and 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Thursday, April 16, 2026 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Funeral Service for Henry: 3:00 PM at Serenity Chapel, 95 Main Street

Thursday, April 16, 2026 Visitation resumes: 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM 

Funeral Service for Olive:

Friday, April 17, 2026 2:00 PM at St. Andrew’s Anglican Church, Port au Bras
Interment: Following the service for both Henry and Olive at St. Andrew’s Anglican Cemetery

 
"A mother and grandmother's love for books is a gift that never ends;
she lived her life one chapter at a time,
teaching us to read between the lines,
and in the library of our hearts,
her stories will always be the most cherished."

Donations in Olive’s memory may be made to St. Andrew’s Anglican Church Port au Bras or flowers gratefully accepted.

Funeral arrangements entrusted to Serenity Funeral Home. We listen, We learn, We walk with you.