Mrs. Violeta Brown, M.D.

Mrs. Violeta Columbina Ortega Brown, M.D., affectionately known as “Olet” by her friends and “Lola” by her many grandchildren, was born October 21, 1932 in Manila, Philippines.  Following in her parent’s footsteps, her father, a prominent surgeon and her mother a nurse, Olet graduated from University of Philippines Medical School in 1956.  Soon after, she moved to the United States, where she continued her medical training in Buffalo, New York, then completed her specialty in Child Psychiatry at the Menniger Foundation in Topeka, Kansas.  It was there that she met her future husband, Robert J. Brown.  Olet helped thousands of children throughout her medical career, at Children’s Mercy Hospital, the Ozanam Home for Boys where she became the medical director, and Crittendon Institute, as well as many in her own private practice.  She was not only incredibly loving, but was fiercely intelligent.  She was always eager to learn and never afraid to try new things.  One of her most beloved phrases was “let’s do it!”  She could play the piano in one moment and wield a power tool in the next.  Playful on occasion, she had been known to practice hypnosis on her daughters’ friends during sleepovers.  Yes, somewhere in the world today, there are several young women who owe their LOVE of green vegetables to her and her hypnosis.  Olet believed in the power of medicine, but later in life came to embrace the value of holistic medicine.  Olet loved her husband, adored her two daughters, and remained faithful to her savior Jesus Christ, whose loving arms are now holding her tight. We miss you Lola and will continue to love you forever more.  Olet is survived by her two daughters Mimi Taylor and Christina Gassen, their spouses, Daniel Taylor and Chad Gassen and her grandsons Ori Taylor, Christian Taylor, Leger Taylor, Burke Gassen and Quinn Gassen.  She is predeceased by her parents, Eduardo Ortega and Christina Victoria Ortega, her sister Lilia Ortega and husband, Robert Brown.  A visitation will be held from 5-7 pm with a Rosary beginning at 5 pm on Monday, June 23, 2014, at St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Parish, 14251 Nall, Leawood, KS. A Mass of Resurrection will be celebrated at 10:00 am on Tuesday June 24, 2014 also at St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Parish.

---