Ernestine Anna Brown's story began on July 25, 1937 in Prospect, VA. Ernestine, also known as Ernie, was born to the late Roy and Nannie Brown. She was the youngest of 7 girls and one boy. Ernestine enjoyed her bragging rights as the baby, and adored her older sisters and brother.

When she moved to Philadelphia in 1953, she lived with her sister, Jessie, until she met and married her forever love, Harold B. Stowe, in June of 1959. From that union, two daughters, Lisa and Harriet, were born. They started their family life in West Philadelphia but moved to Mount Airy in 1971, finally settling in Erdenheim when Harold retired.

Baptized at First Rock Baptist Church in Virginia as a child, she was later baptized in 1961 alongside her husband, into the Catholic Church as a member of Transfiguration Roman Catholic Church. She would later join St. Genevieve's in 1990, where she faithfully attended until no longer able.

Ernestine was a homemaker during her girls' early years while Harold worked long hours for the US Government. She took great pride in having meals prepared for her husband, day or night and keeping the house in good order...not to mention her obsession with laundry and ironing. She even had a designated ironing room at her current home on Glenway Road. Known for her sense of style and extensive wardrobe, her bestie, Josephine, once (and maybe more than once) said to her, "Stowe, you would sell your right arm for a new blouse." She just smiled.

Over the years, Ernestine held clerical positions at several companies, including Lactona Corporation and Provident Mutual Insurance. Circa 1981, Ernestine started a position with the University of Pennsylvania in their Development Department where she worked for over 20 years. After retirement from the university, she enjoyed and was very successful at making outbound calls regarding customer receipts of the "yellow pages".

Ernestine adored her girls and enjoyed their friends. She took great pleasure in cooking for them, shopping with them and staying informed about their social lives – especially when she could get Harriet's buddy, Yvonne, to spill the tea on their latest shenanigans. Then along came her namesake, Marriah Ernestine, the granddaughter who took all of the attention. Ernestine took her role as a grandmother very seriously with school pickups, piano recitals and many lessons in the kitchen.

She loved a good story and had the best quirky southern sayings that she always attributed to her grandmother, Aunt Mae, like "new broom sweeps clean" and..."as long as Pat stayed in the Army". You'll have to Google to find the meanings (more Ernestineisms below). She liked to travel with her husband, sisters and friends, and in later years even cruised to Alaska.

Sadly, her brother, Jerry, and five of her sisters, Mary, Jessie, Ethel, Beulah and Bettie Kate pre-deceased her, as well as her son-in-law, Emanuel.

Ernestine will never be forgotten. She leaves to mourn her loss, her devoted husband of 64 years Harold Stowe; sister Dorothy Brooks; brother-in-law Samuel Brooks; her daughters Lisa Stowe and Harriet Hennigan; step-daughter Denise Marshall; granddaughters Marriah Hennigan and Karleen Marshall; grandson Theodore Marshall; great-grandsons Kristoffer Marshall and Theodore Marshall III; a host of nieces, nephews and friends.

Sorrowfully submitted by Ernestine's family.

ERNESTINEISMS:

"I might would/I might could" (her version of 'I might')

"Down over/Up under" (added extra words for emphasis)

"Talked strong" (how she'd describe a woman standing up for herself)

"I just called to make you laugh" (then you'd hear a great story)