Evelyn 'Eve' Ann Brown
Evelyn 'Eve' Ann Brown Obituary
Springfield, Illinois - An angel: Mom Eve's favorite term of endearment, as well as her newest title, in addition to loving wife, devoted mother, and proud grandmother.
Evelyn "Eve" Ann Brown gained her angel wings on April 24, 2025. Mom Eve was surrounded by both of her daughters as she graduated to Heaven.
Mom Eve was born in Chicago, Illinois to Joseph and Julia Reczek. She was the youngest of seven children. She became a model. She was in movies, shows, and ads, but the best was the print advertisement with Mom Eve's photo and the line, "Don't you want to be like her?" And who wouldn't want to be like Mom Eve?
In 1955, while out to drinks with her modeling buddies, Mom Eve used the bar's payphone. Jim Brown was waiting and annoyed that someone was taking so long. As soon as Mom Eve walked out of the phone booth and he saw her legs, he forgot his complaints. He spent the evening wooing "the knockout." In 1957, Jim was so proud to marry the most beautiful woman in Chicago.
In 1957, the couple moved to Evanston, Illinois and had two daughters, Elizabeth and Jennifer. Liz and Jenny were the jewels in Mom Eve's crown.
While raising two small children, Mom Eve attended classes at Northwestern University. She impressed her professors with her writing, love for numbers, and ability to balance being a student, wife, and mother.
In 1977, the Brown family moved to Kankakee, Illinois and lived in a Frank Lloyd Wright home for over 40 years. It was his first prairie-style home, which like Mom Eve is one of a kind. In Kankakee, Mom Eve loved to visit the country club, the tennis courts, K-Mart, and Kroger.
Mom Eve travelled the world, originally as a model and later with her family. She enjoyed cruises, trips to France, Italy, Poland, Belgium, Germany, and Mexico, as well as domestic trips to visit family in Minnesota and California.
She was a member of the Union League Club of Chicago for over 40 years. She enjoyed some of her favorite moments there, from her daughter's wedding to her granddaughter's rehearsal dinner to simple dinners in the Rendezvous surrounded by her family.
Mom Eve spent her final years at Illinois Presbyterian Home, in Springfield, Illinois. She was within walking distance of her daughter, Liz. Though not quite walking distance, her daughter, Jenny, made the eight-hour drive monthly. Mom Eve relished the quality time with both girls, always welcoming them to her room with a special gift or treat. She spent her days tracking the stock market, winning Bingo, and eating sweet treats sent by her daughters and sons-in-law. She made friends with everyone, from the kitchen staff to the night nurses.
In August, she walked her final catwalk at her granddaughter's wedding. She was the belle of the ball, blowing kisses as she went down the aisle, in true model form.
Mom Eve was a huge heart in a small package. She was the number one cheerleader. She was so proud and happy for her family, even for the littlest things. She was thrilled when family shared big news, like engagements, homeownership, or career advancements, or even something as small as a free lunch.
She adored her two daughters, two sons-in-law, and four grandchildren. She just loved to be surrounded by her family.
She loved being a part of the conversation, in the room, a big part of her family's lives, and the creator of such a loving family. She loved watching her grandchildren in tennis, soccer, wrestling, hockey, and school plays. She loved sweet pierogi, ice cream sundaes, sweet rolls, and cheese Danish (but she would have been the first to give away the center of the Cheese Danish, even though it was her favorite part). She loved Las Vegas and penny slots (but she loved when her daughters won even more).
She loved talking on the phone with her family. Her children and grandchildren called her every day. She ended most calls with a heartfelt, "Thank you so much for calling. You're an angel."
Mom Eve will be lovingly remembered by her daughters (Liz Murer and Jennifer St. Clair), her sons-in-law (Sergio Murer and Paul St. Clair), her grandchildren (Alex Murer, Molly Murer Chee-Awai, Rachael St. Clair, and Ryan St. Clair), her grandchildren-in-law (Kyley Murer and Matt Chee-Awai), nieces and nephews scattered across the states.
To Liz she leaves her unwavering positivity and joy. To Jennifer she leaves her supportiveness and pride for her family.
She is joined in rest by her husband (Jim Brown) and her parents (Joseph and Julia Reczek).
In her final days, she described her life as, "Super great. Unbelievable." A few of her final words were, "The gates are open. It is so beautiful." Then, she walked her final runway into Heaven with her knockout legs and beautiful eyes.
Mom Eve could be described as: a fountain of love, a beacon of positivity, unwaveringly proud, resilient, an artist, an antique collector, an amateur stock broker (though expert may be a more appropriate term), having a childlike sense of wonder, creative with fashion, dignified, forgiving, joyous, fiercely stubborn, independent, private, beautiful, kind, adoring, Crazy-Eights Champion, confident, generous, engaged in her family's lives, protective, her family's biggest cheerleader, the best ever, loyal, competitive, appreciative, supporter, bargain hunter, incredible listener, smart, best hair, most likely to flirt with an EMT, strong, talented, loving, super great, and unbelievable.
There was so much more that should be said, but in the end, she was the one and only Mom Eve. An angel.
Her life will be celebrated on Saturday, May 3rd at Wilson Park Funeral Home in Rochester, Illinois. Visitation from 1:00 to 3:00PM, service at 3:00PM. A second celebration of life will be held in Minnetonka, Minnesota, when she is laid to rest with her husband.
Springfield, Illinois - An angel: Mom Eve's favorite term of endearment, as well as her newest title, in addition to loving wife, devoted mother, and proud grandmother.
Evelyn "Eve" Ann Brown gained her angel wings on April 24, 2025. Mom Eve was surrounded by both of her daughters as she graduated to Heaven.
Mom Eve was born in Chica
Published on May 1, 2025
Events
There are no events scheduled.