Sylvia Clare Brown

March 4, 2022

Sylvia Clare Brown, 84, of Cicero, passed away Fri., March 4, 2022. 

She was born in London, England to Earnest Robert and Florence Lydia Clare (nee Todd).

Mrs. Brown left Oxford, England in 1966 and traveled across the Atlantic to New York City on the QE2. Making her way to Indianapolis, she met Christopher van Dyck Brown. They were married Sep. 7, 1968. The couple founded the Indianapolis Festival Music Society, which is now known as the Indianapolis Early Music Festival.

In 1977, Mrs. and Mr. Brown relocated to Lake Forest. During her life, she was very active in The First Presbyterian Church of Lake Forest, where she sang in the Adult Choir. She was also a member of The Lakemister Ringers.

Mrs. Brown was employed with Lake Forest College and Lake Forest School of Management, eventually becoming the Program Director for Ragdale, an artist’s community in Lake Forest, until her retirement in 2002. She served as a Stephen’s Minister and was a member of Toastmaster’s International.

In her late forties, she took to the stage and appeared in many local theater productions in Lake Forest, Ill., and Antioch, Ill. (PM&L). She played leading roles in Once Upon a Mattress, Into the Woods, and Blyth Spirit.

Mrs. Brown was gifted and a creator of beautiful things, such as exquisite miniature Christmas trees with handmade ornaments, floral decoupage, crocheted blankets, needlepoint, and embroidery. Most importantly, she was also a beloved friend and mom, earning the appropriate title “Queen of Hearts”.

Survivors include her loving daughters Kipleigh Brown-Phillips of Glendale, Calif., Neilia Brown-McGuinness of Noblesville, Ind. and Alisa Brown-Steady of Fox Lake, Ill.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her brother, Douglas Clare; and husband, Christopher van Dyck Brown.

In Mrs. Brown’s honor, guests are encouraged to wear florals and or bright cheerful colors to her Celebration of Life Service, which is scheduled to be held on Fri., March 18, 2022 at 3 p.m. in Forest Park Inn, The Overlook Room, 701 Cicero Road, Noblesville, Ind. 46060.

Please consider giving donations in memory of Mrs. Brown to the Humane Society for Hamilton County, 10501 Hague Rd, Fishers, Ind. 46038. Envelopes will be available at the service. Arrangements have been entrusted to Bussell Family Funerals, Westfield-Carmel.