Penny Sue (Hileman) Brown

Penny Sue Brown, beloved wife, mother and grandmother, passed away Thursday, December 23, 2021, following a brief illness.  Penny was born May 1, 1951, in South Bend, Indiana to the late Merl and Dorothy (Shields) Hileman.  She was preceded in death by her first husband James Hoff in 2012 and her son Jason in 1981. 

On August 18, 2016, Penny married Phil Brown in Osceola.  Phil survives, along with her daughter Jamie, her favorite son in law Dan, and her beautiful granddaughters Adrienne and Alaina DeMeyer of Mishawaka.  Also surviving are her stepson Michael Brown of Elkhart, her brother Craig Hileman of Venice, Florida, and her Dalmatian Camy.

Her compassionate nature and service towards others was displayed as she cared for loved ones throughout her life.  Additionally, she worked as a nurse in nursing homes and with Dr. Cox and Dr. Buck in South Bend.

Following her time as a nurse, she was hired on as a Reserve Police Officer in Osceola for several years.  Later, she pursued a career as a Pharmacy Technician with Sam’s Club in Mishawaka where she worked until her first husband, James, passed away.  Penny relocated to Sterrett, Alabama for a short while, then returned to Elkhart when she and Phil reconnected and became husband and wife. 

Penny loved to watch football, both Notre Dame and Alabama, and Sci-fi movies, especially Star Wars marathons to celebrate every holiday, which has become a family tradition.  She loved taking her family to the zoo and could spend hours watching the animals.  Penny loved to go camping and enjoyed spending time sitting with her husband by the campfire.

She was talented in many different areas, especially as a seamstress.  She enjoyed making Halloween costumes and clothes for her daughter and her dolls many years ago. She also enjoyed crafting, needlepoint, and quilting.  She would spend tremendous amounts of time making beautiful and thoughtful gifts for others.   

She loved spending time with her granddaughters, teaching them the joys of making crafts and guiding them to follow in her footsteps of generosity and love that went into each carefully and thoughtfully made gift. 

More than anything, Penny loved being a wife, mother and grandmother.  Her family will miss her tremendously.

Following Penny’s wishes, no services will be held. The family asks you to honor her memory with a smile and a kind deed to others. Cruz Family Funeral Home and Cremation Service of Osceola is assisting with her arrangements. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Potawatomi Zoo of South Bend or to the Humane Society. 

To light a virtual candle in her memory, share a story of her life, or leave a message of comfort for her family, please follow the links provided on the tribute wall tab above.