Emma Lou Darlene (Hayden) Brown
Emma Lou Darlene (Hayden) Brown, Age 86, of Flint, passed away on February 29, 2024 at her home. In accordance with her wishes, cremation has taken place. Expressions of sympathy may be shared with the family on Emma’s Tribute Wall at detroitcremationsociety.com.
Emma Lou Darlene (Hayden) Brown was born on May 14, 1937, in Flint, Michigan, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John and Mary Edith (Lewis) Hayden.
Emma was happiest and most productive in her craft room. She was a professional seamstress and created countless unique and original pieces. She was also an excellent artist as well as gifted in the craft of wood burning. Emma was exceptionally proud of her Sweepstakes prize winning crafts displayed for decades at the Genesee County Fair. Also serving as Genesee County Fair photographer with her husband Howard, they captured a lifetime of memories for others. As Owosso Speedway track photographers, wedding and senior picture photographers, Emma and Howard made lifetime friends along the way.
Emma loved singing and music and shared a DJ/Karaoke business with her husband Howard and daughter Renee.
She made cakes for every occasion and her decorating style was beautiful as well as perfection to the palette.
Her memberships included the Order of Eastern Star where she was a leader as Worthy Matron. She was also active in the Fraternal Order of Eagles, serving as a leader in youth activities and community betterment. An offshoot group of the Eagles was a Hillbilly Clan she engaged in and was voted the Chapter Possum Queen; a title she wore with pride. Emma was a civil servant, acting for decades as an election inspector and chairperson for Genesee Township, a position in which she excelled and passed down to her granddaughter Jessica.
She loved people, animals and most of all her family. She traveled and devoted countless hours of research compiling volumes of Family Tree and genealogy information to share with generations to come. With open arms and free of judgment she would take in neighborhood kids and help steer them in the right direction for their future. She was “Mom” to many and loved by them all.
Her talents, crafts, life lessons and generosity will forever remain in our hearts.
Surviving Emma Lou is her daughter Suzi (Bill) Wirsing; daughter Renee (Adam) Rowe; son Howard (Michele) Brown; son John Brown; grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces, and many friends who became family along the way.
Emma Lou is preceded in death by her husband Howard L. Brown; parents John and Mary Edith Hayden; Brother John Hayden; aunts, uncles, and others welcoming her to everlasting life hereafter.
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Love and miss you thank
you for everything RIP ❤️ so happy to be family
RIP Grandma Darlene. Makes me smile thinking about you and Grandpa Howard being together again watching over all of us. Can’t wait to see you both again some day. Love you and miss you. ❤️
What a beautiful life. You’ll be missed. Looking forward to visiting with you and grandpa at OIB. It makes my heart smile thinking of you two together again. ❤️
You have truly left your stamp on so many people. I will miss you and our wonderful conversations as well as hearing about your love of ancestry. I know you are now free of pain and the struggles of life that find us all. I could not have asked for a better Auntie because you were the best. Thank you for always being you.
I love you and miss you already!
You were not only a loving Aunt, but a loving Mom to me for a while. I have many fond & wonderful memories of you. Prayers to the family, my heart breaks ! 💋
Renee, sorry for you loss!
Wonderful lady. Such an honor and pleasure to know and meet your family So very talented and loved by all Howard and Darlene are two of the nicest people I have ever met one blessed day when I met Renee and her family. Love and prayers for the family and please give Howard a hug for me ❤️
MOM I WILL FOREVER KEEP YOU IN MY HEART ,LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE SO BRIGHTLY THAT I MAY FIND MY WAY OUT OF THE DARKNESS , GIVE DAD A KISS AND TELL HIM IM TRYING TO BE THE MAN HE WANTED ME TO BE.
Remember Grandma it’s always gonna be OK🥺 I’ll never forget calling you every day. Trying to talk with you now that you’re up there with Grandpa I can talk to you guys all the time no more busy tone not being able to reach you because you will always be in my heart
I’m thankful and honored to have been able to meet Emma and help care for her. We shared stories of mutual acquaintances and cats of course. My thoughts are with her family. Rest in peace Miss Emma
Always enjoyed talking with you. blessed us with several dress fittings for Raven, or a quick hem or fix of Andy’s race suit over the years!! Rest well❤️
I have so many memories as a child growing up being around Gramdma and Grandpa Brown with my cousins. I’m thankful for every one of them.
Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.
Well Darlene I hope you and Howard get with mom and sing with the Angels. You all sound so beautiful. Sorry for your loss Renee and Jesse she will be missed dearly.