Jeremiah Brown

Jeremiah” Jeremy” Brown was born on November 27, 1971, at Leonard Morse Hospital in Natick, MA. The Doctor asked to speak with me shortly after he was born, and said, “He’s not a good baby”. He couldn’t have been more wrong, Jeremy was a great, truly loving human being, both as a baby and an adult. We have always felt that Jeremy’s purpose in life was to teach people what Unconditional love is, and he did that to perfection every day of his life.

Jeremy participated in the first study on Down syndrome children outside of the institution at Children’s Hospital in Boston starting in 1972. Over the three years, he received multiple services and contributed to the knowledge base on Down Syndrome people which went on to be the basis for a book on Down Syndrome.

Jeremy grew up in Leominster, MA. And attended schools there, beginning at age three. He received multiple services, including speech, and participated in a newly developed Home Stimulation program. Jeremy had a special gift for connecting with people. His smile could warm the coldest of hearts. What he lacked in intelligence he more than made up for in love. One of his greatest loves was his baby brother Timothy, born when Jeremy was 12. He delighted in seeing and holding him, and soon referred to him as “my baby”.

At 15 he began attending Nashoba Regional High School in the CASE Collaborative classroom. He loved school and all of the students and teachers. He received training to work and basic academics. He joined the school chorus and sang a duet at one of the Christmas concerts with one of the regular students, of Silent Night, one of his favorite songs. He graduated in 1993 and was given the Principles Award for having the most positive impact on the community.

After school, he received services at the Institute of Professional Practice in Gardner. Soon he was working as part of a dishwashing team at one of the Head Start kindergarten programs in Gardner. He would work there for 22 years until the physical requirements of the job became too much for him. Staff at the school loved him, and I was told by the Building Superintendent, “As long as I’m here he will always have a job”. He received special recognition for his work, excellent attendance, and for being the perfect role model.

Jeremy loved life and all people. He loved music, dancing, bowling, and swimming. He attended ARC dances regularly and was always the first person on the dance floor. He went swimming whenever he could both at his friend Richie’s pool and at the Mount Wachusett Community College Athletic Center’s pool. He attended many Folk Festivals and delighted at sitting at his father's booth, saying hello to every person who came by and demonstrating playing the bones. But his greatest joy was attending the yearly gathering of the Rhythm Bones Society, Bones Fest. He was a natural performer, and delighted to be on stage playing the bones to the Pharrell Williams song, “Happy”, and when he was done, hugging as many people in the audience as he could.

He also loved traveling and went to Disney World four times, traveled to Texas, Michigan, Florida, as well as Scotland, and Iceland. He made an interesting impact in the airport as he would say to each passing person, “How are you?” and delighted when someone would take a minute to talk to him.

Most of all he loved his family; his brother Tim, Aunts, Uncles, cousins, and his mother, Jennifer. He was a joy to be around, and always had a smile, and a hug for everyone.

We would like to thank all of the people who worked with him over the years, especially the dedicated staff of Aids who provided loving care for him in our home over the last year and seven months, Shaunna Mason, Gabriele Lee, Rebecca Whitaker, and many others. The MFP program whose support allowed him to live at home. The nurses and doctors who cared for him, especially those in the CCU at Leominster Hospital.

You will be in our hearts forever, know that you have changed us in the most positive and profound way, and that we are better people because of you, Jennifer and Steve Brown.

Calling hours will be held in the Stone Ladeau Funeral Home. 343 Central Street, Winchendon, MA 01475, on Monday, May 6, 2024, from 4-7 P.M.

Kevin J. Mack, Walter C. Taylor, and Melissa A. McQuaid, Funeral Directors