Belén Cámara Brown

Belén Cámara Brown passed away at home surrounded by her husband and two daughters on October 19, 2020 at the age of 90 after a long struggle with Alzheimer's. A recent resident of Olympia Fields, IL, Belén formerly lived in Mt. Prospect, IL for almost 50 years. Belén was born on December 17, 1929 in Carmen, Cebu in the Philippines to the late Mariano and Concepcion (Rallos) Cámara. She was the youngest of 10 children. After graduating with a degree in Chemistry from the University of the Philippines in Manila (considered the Harvard of the Philippines), she immigrated to the US for her Master's in Organic Chemistry at Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT), where she met her husband. Belén was the beloved wife of Roger Brown with whom she had celebrated 60 years of marriage this past March 12th. In addition to her husband, she is survived by her children, Eileen Wood and her husband, Christopher, of Tewksbury, MA and Sharon Bouchie, and her husband, George, of Homewood, IL, and nine grandchildren, Bridgette Southard and her husband, Steven, Samantha Wood, Caitlin McKinnon and her husband, William, Vanessa Wood, Anastasia Wood, Lorna Wood, Madeleine Bouchie, Nathaniel Bouchie and Lucas Bouchie and six great grandchildren, Skylar, Brogan, Oliver, Peter and Mackenzie Southard and baby McKinnon. She was the loving sister of the late Dulce, Pilar, Florentino and Dolores Teves and Maria, Benjamin, Manuel, Jesus, and Carmen Cámara. She was also much loved by many nieces and nephews both in the US and the Philippines.

Belén spent many years working as a research chemist in Chicago until her daughters were born. At that time, she devoted her life to providing a caring and loving home for her family. She was such a wonderful wife and mother and many of the neighborhood children could often be found at her house. As the girls grew older, Belén started a business importing and wholesaling jewelry from the Philippines. During her many years in Mt. Prospect, IL, she was an active member and daily Communicant at St. Emily Parish. She was also a member of the Blue Army of Our Lady of Fatima which has a special devotion to the rosary.

In her spare time, she played the piano (she had perfect pitch!) and could often be found with a crossword puzzle book in hand. She also loved spending time with her grandchildren whether nearby or in New England.

She will be resting at the Tews-Ryan Funeral Home, 18230 S. Dixie Hwy. Homewood on Sunday, November 1, 2020 from 2:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. Prayers will be held Monday at the funeral home at 9:30 a.m. followed by a funeral Mass St. Joseph Church, 17951 Dixie Hwy., Homewood at 10:00 a.m. Interment will be at Assumption Cemetery, Glenwood, IL. In lieu of flowers, memorials in Belén's name can be made to Concerts for Hope (concertsforhope.net).

For additional information contact www.tews-ryanfh.com or 708-798-5300