Rafaela Brown

Rafaela Sánchez Brown passed peacefully from this life on December 16th, 2021, at the age of 92 with her family by her side at her home in Toledo. Rafaela grew up in Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico, the daughter of Rafael Sánchez and Ines Millán. It was in Mexico where she met her husband, Robert Joseph Brown, where he was serving on a mission with his church. Together they had 10 children: Vykki, Eddie, Scott, Toni, Brenda, John, Roque, Kenny, Lisa, and Marita. She was also blessed with innumerable grandchildren and great-grandchildren. We all know that sometimes she liked us and sometimes she didn’t (it was always black and white) - but we also know that underneath those sentiments, she always loved each and every one of us. Rafaela was renowned for always telling it like it was (or how she saw it). She always told the truth, even if it wasn’t what you wanted to hear. She loved her garden as much as she loved telling us what to do, and she loved to care for her flowers with us as her helpers. She was born before child labor was made illegal, and we’re not sure anyone ever let her know about that law. We learned from her that it’s always better to ask forgiveness than permission, and so want to apologize for gathering to remember her and not just “throwing her in the hole” as she requested. We want to recognize and remember her sweet, stubborn, funny, unmistakably unique life, and remind everyone to always put socks on (you’re too cold). We will never forget her tenacity, wit, and love for us all. We have chosen to remember her with Frank Sinatra’s “My Way” - she loved dancing to (and hearing her husband, our papa, sing) Sinatra, and she certainly never did anything unless it was her way. Some of the lyrics are as follows: “My friend, I'll make it clear I'll state my case, of which I am certain I've lived a life that's full I traveled each and every highway And more, much more”