Dolores Aldera Brown

Mary Dolores "Dee" Aldera Brown was born December 22, 1925 in Storm Lake, Iowa. She was a first generation American from an Italian immigrant father, Ned Lawrence Aldera and Irish American mother, Kathryn Louise Mernin, who met at a mutual friend's wedding.As a young child, Dee and her family moved to Jefferson, Iowa where she entered 3rd grade after skipping 2 grades. Growing up, Dee was involved in many school activities including singing, playing the piano and saxophone, basketball, tennis and marching band twirler.Dee loved to sing and took voice lessons in Junior High. At 16 she graduated with honors from high school and received a voice scholarship to Saint Teresa College for Girls in Winona, Minnesota. After a year, Dee transferred to Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where she studied nursing and joined the Cadet Nursing Corp.After graduation, she worked as a nurse in Hollywood, California, on the Illinois Central Railroad, and hospitals in Jefferson & Dubuque, Iowa; Peoria, Illinois, and Milwaukee, where she met the love of her life, Dr. Irwin H. Brown. In 1951 Dee and Irwin were married by Dee's Uncle Father John Aldera at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Jefferson, IA. They moved to OKC where Irwin was a practicing General Surgeon and together raised their six children.Dee enjoyed singing in Christ the King Choir and Ladies Music Club and traveled with family and friends across the USA and Europe. She survived tuberculosis at the age of 21 and breast cancer at 40.Dee's parents preceded her in death as did her husband Irwin, sister Char and daughter Marilyn Brown Young. Dee is survived by her sister Teresa Lorentz, daughters Dianne and Maureen Brown, sons, Spencer, Irwin (Theresa), and Greg Brown; son-in-law, David Young; grandchildren: Gretchen, Andrew, and Bridget Young, Alec Hughes, Isabel Brown, and many nephews, nieces, extended relatives and friends.Dee was able to remain at home for her last journey with the help of her caring doctors, nurses, and caretakers. We greatly appreciate the Priests and Sacramental volunteers of Christ the King Church, and all the people who offered prayers for Dee. May she rest in peace.Visitation will be on Sunday, March 26, from 2:00- 7:00 p.m. followed by a vigil service at 7 p.m. at Smith & Kernke, 14624 N. May Ave. A funeral Mass will be celebrated on Monday, March 27 at 10:30 a.m. at Christ the King Catholic Church 8005 Dorset Drive. Interment will be at Waverly Cemetery in Waverly, Missouri.In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to: Father John Aldera Foundation, 1350 N. W. 138th St. Suite 100, Clive, IA, 50325 Attn: Lynn; or Central Oklahoma Habitat for Humanity: 5005 S. I-35 Service Road, Okla. City, OK 73129; or Christ the King Choir 8005 Dorset Drive, Okla. City, OK 73120.