Catherine E. Wilcox, a former Director of Christian Education for the United Church of Christ, died Friday, January 5, 2024, at Brentwood Nursing Home six weeks after celebrating her 100th birthday on November 19, 2023. She was the wife of the late Rev. C. Conrad Browne and the late Rev. Dr. Tadanori Yamashita.
Born in Providence, RI, the daughter of the late Frank E. Wilcox and Ruth (Russell) Wilcox-Anderton, she was predeceased by her five brothers: Russell B., Lloyd I., J. Elwin, John C., and Kenneth M. Wilcox. She was the beloved aunt of Carol Manzolillo, Craig Wilcox, Calvin Wilcox, Douglas Wilcox, Susan Kelly, Paul Wilcox, Martha McDonough, and the late Barbara Widler, and Gary Wilcox. She was called “Auntie Cay” by her numerous grand and great-grand nieces & nephews. She is also survived by stepchildren Charles Browne, Lora Browne, and Chrys Browne. She was called “Nana Cay” by her step-grandchildren. She is survived also by her God Children, Megan & Kevin.
A proud native of Rhode Island, Catherine (aka Cathy) grew up in Providence, and in 1996 retired to Gaspee Point in Warwick. She was a graduate of Providence Bible Institute (later affiliated with Gordon College in MA), the Child Evangelism Fellowship Institute in CA, and Stone Business College in CT. She also participated in summer sessions at Union Theological Seminary in NY, Ecumenical Institute in Salamanca, Spain, and Tantur Seminary in Israel.
Her Christian service included five years as a missionary in Tokyo and Aomori, Japan, where she met and married the Rev. Dr. Tadanori Yamashita. For ten years Catherine worked as a secretary in Providence, Chicago, and New Haven, CT. For twenty years She served as a Director of Christian Education in United Church of Christ churches in MA and Iowa.
Catherine was the founder and first chair of the New England Association of United Church Educators. Her last career before retiring was ten years as secretary to the Director of the Career Center at Wellesley College in MA.
Before its closing, she was an active member of Shawomet Baptist Church in Warwick. Catherine was also a member of the Baptist Peace Fellowship. At their annual gathering in 1997, she met the Rev. C. Conrad Browne. Their marriage combined their life-long advocacy for peace and justice, as well as a love of opera. “Con & Cay” were members of Edgewood Congregational Church (UCC) in Cranston, RI.
She touched the hearts of so many with her love and Christian values and enjoyed their love in return.
Her life will be celebrated at a memorial service held at Edgewood Congregational Church, 1788 Broad Street, Cranston on Saturday, January 20, 2024 at 1:00 PM. A reception will be held in the Church’s Fellowship Hall immediately following the service. Interment on the Wilcox Family Lot in North Burial Ground, Providence, will be private.
In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory made to one of Catherine’s favorite charities Koinonia Farm, 1324 GA Hwy 49 South, Americus, GA 31719-9508 (www.koinoniafarm.org) or Oglala Lakota College, PO Box 537, Piya Wiconi Road, Kyle, SD 57752-0537 (www.olc.edu) would be appreciated. Condolences may be offered to her family and remembrances of Catherine shared online at www.carpenterjenks.com.
Catherine E. Wilcox, a former Director of Christian Education for the United Church of Christ, died Friday, January 5, 2024, at Brentwood Nursing Home six weeks after celebrating her 100th birthday on November 19, 2023. She was the wife of the late Rev. C. Conrad Browne and the late Rev. Dr. Tadanori Yamashita.
Born in Providence, RI, the daughter of the late Frank E. Wilcox and Ruth (Russell) Wilcox-Anderton, she was predeceased by her five brothers: Russell B., Lloyd I., J. Elwin, John C., and Kenneth M. Wilcox. She was the beloved aunt of Carol Manzolillo, Craig Wilcox, Calvin Wilcox, Douglas Wilcox, Susan Kelly, Paul Wilcox, Martha McDonough, and the late Barbara Widler, and Gary Wilcox. She was called “Auntie Cay” by her numerous grand and great-grand nieces & nephews. She is also survived by stepchildren Charles Browne, Lora Browne, and Chrys Browne. She was called “Nana Cay” by her step-grandchildren. She is survived also by her God Children, Megan & Kevin.
A proud native of Rhode Island, Catherine (aka Cathy) grew up in Providence, and in 1996 retired to Gaspee Point in Warwick. She was a graduate of Providence Bible Institute (later affiliated with Gordon College in MA), the Child Evangelism Fellowship Institute in CA, and Stone Business College in CT. She also participated in summer sessions at Union Theological Seminary in NY, Ecumenical Institute in Salamanca, Spain, and Tantur Seminary in Israel.
Her Christian service included five years as a missionary in Tokyo and Aomori, Japan, where she met and married the Rev. Dr. Tadanori Yamashita. For ten years Catherine worked as a secretary in Providence, Chicago, and New Haven, CT. For twenty years She served as a Director of Christian Education in United Church of Christ churches in MA and Iowa.
Catherine was the founder and first chair of the New England Association of United Church Educators. Her last career before retiring was ten years as secretary to the Director of the Career Center at Wellesley College in MA.
Before its closing, she was an active member of Shawomet Baptist Church in Warwick. Catherine was also a member of the Baptist Peace Fellowship. At their annual gathering in 1997, she met the Rev. C. Conrad Browne. Their marriage combined their life-long advocacy for peace and justice, as well as a love of opera. “Con & Cay” were members of Edgewood Congregational Church (UCC) in Cranston, RI.
She touched the hearts of so many with her love and Christian values and enjoyed their love in return.
Her life will be celebrated at a memorial service held at Edgewood Congregational Church, 1788 Broad Street, Cranston on Saturday, January 20, 2024 at 1:00 PM. A reception will be held in the Church’s Fellowship Hall immediately following the service. Interment on the Wilcox Family Lot in North Burial Ground, Providence, will be private.
In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory made to one of Catherine’s favorite charities Koinonia Farm, 1324 GA Hwy 49 South, Americus, GA 31719-9508 (www.koinoniafarm.org) or Oglala Lakota College, PO Box 537, Piya Wiconi Road, Kyle, SD 57752-0537 (www.olc.edu) would be appreciated. Condolences may be offered to her family and remembrances of Catherine shared online at www.carpenterjenks.com.
