PERU — Paula Brown, 71, of Peru, formerly of Cherry, died peacefully in her daughter’s home in Tonica on Sunday, June 18, 2017.
Paula was born May 2, 1946, to Armondo and Josephine (Schmidt) Romanelli. She married Michael McCarren on Oct. 19, 1968, and he died Aug. 3, 1972. She then married David Brown Aug. 10, 1985.
Paula graduated from Cherry Grade School, St. Mary’s Academy in Nauvoo and Illinois State University. She taught for 33 years at Cherry Grade School.
Paula was a member of Holy Trinity Church in Cherry and was an active volunteer of the Cherry Public Library. Her most pride was with her family especially her three granddaughters. She enjoyed traveling, bowling, gardening and canning. She was an avid Chicago White Sox fan.
Paula is survived by her husband, David of Peru; two daughters, Ann (Casey) Lage of Colfax and Sue (David) Huss of Tonica; three granddaughters, Brianna, Elizabeth and Angela Huss; three sisters, Linda Fusinetti of Peru, Mary (Mike) Dremann of Princeton and Karen (Steve) Stremlau of Mendota; two brothers, Ralph (Peg) Romanelli of Rock Falls and John (Sheri) Romanelli of Arlington; her mother-in-law, Audrey Brown of Peru; one sister-in-law, Jane Brown of Spring Valley; and nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Michael McCarren; and her father-in-law, Robert Brown.
A Mass of Christian burial will be 10:30 a.m. Thursday, June 22, in Holy Trinity Church in Cherry with the Rev. Patrick Fixsen officiating. Burial will be in Holy Trinity Cemetery in Cherry.
Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, June 21, in the Hurst Funeral Home in Tonica. Additional visitation will be from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Thursday in the church in Cherry.
Memorials may be made to the Cherry Public Library.
Pallbearers will be David Huss, Casey Lage, Jeremy Fry, Joe Romanelli, and Kyle and Kurt Stremlau.
Online condolences may be viewed and remembrances shared at www.hurstfuneralhomes.com.