Obituary of Mary Brown Sarepera

Mary Brown Sarepera passed away unexpectedly on November 4^th, 2023, at the Mayo Clinic, in Jacksonville, Florida, during a regular routine outpatient treatment visit that, due to additional recommended hospital medical procedures, turned into an inadvertently acquired health condition ending in a torturous final week for her there. She fought this valiantly to the end. She was surrounded by her adoring husband, Hillar Sarepera, who never left her side the entire week, and other family members who could make it there in time.

Extraordinarily vivacious, Mary was proud, confident, intelligent, compassionate, good natured, and stunningly beautiful in every way. With a loving heart, caring attitude, and outgoing personality, full of fun, abundant humor, and obvious empathy for all, Mary took over every room and situation she was in. There is not one person alive who met Mary that was not enchanted by her smile, her amazing blue eyes, her genuine interest in them, her obvious utterly contagious calming inner peach, uplifting spirit, and her ability to make everyone feel special. Mary will be sorely missed, leaving a gaping hole in the lives of her husband who she profoundly loved, all of her family, her additional “chosen family”, and her many friends all over the world, all of whom she went out of her way to constantly stay involved with. Most of all, no man has ever had a better, loving, trusting, adventurous, romantic, fun filled, “two for the road” partnership than Hillar had with his precious wife Mary for almost 50 years.

Mary’s remarkable life began on New Year’s Eve in 1934 in Kansas City, Missouri, when she was born to Herbert Kenneth Brown and Mary Lucille Brown (Mary Lucille Ferrell). Although she attended Kansas State Teacher’s College, she left to become a stewardess for United Airlines and traveled extensively. Following in their mother’s footsteps, both she and her sister went on to marry military men who were serving their country. Her son also served his country as a third-generation military member. As a military wife and mother, she was afforded many opportunities to travel and live all over the world.

A devoted wife and mother, Mary was also a doting grandmother and great grandmother. Mary worked as an executive in the mortgage industry in many locations as she moved around with her husband. She was a proud member of several organizations that included Clipped Wings for retired United Stewardesses, the Newport RI Art Association, the Newport Sandpipers, the Newport Point Association, and was an active member of the First Presbyterian Church of Newport, RI. Mary was a very talented artist who took the opportunity to pursue her passion for professional level painting and calligraphy leaving behind a plethora of amazingly beautiful paintings for her surviving family members. As an avid bridge player, she regularly enjoyed the group gatherings, friendships, and competition.

Mary is preceded in death by her parents, her sisters Patricia and Harriet and her nephew Michael Kimm. She leaves behind to celebrate her life her husband Capt. Hillar Sarepera, USN (ret), her daughters Catherine Bishop and Lisa Bishop Butler (Paul), her son Col. Scott Bishop, USAF (ret) (Jackie), her grandchildren Kevin O’Brien, Erin Bishop-O’Brien, Brendan O’Brien, Tripper Hickman (Genny), Kelsey Hickman, Morgan Hickman, Chris Hickman, Ryan Bishop (Victoria), and Stephanie Bishop as well as great grandchildren Oliver and Wyatt.

Mary was blessed to have enjoyed a life very well lived. She will be laid to rest in Arlington National Cemetery, in her turn, at which time her family and friends will hold a formal service in the chapel there to celebrate her extraordinary life.