Ronnie Brown has been a staple of her parish’s music ministry for decades.
She served as the organist for Saint Lawrence Parish – now part of Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish Shrine, Lindenwold – for nearly 45 years. Today, Brown – who turned 90 in July – sings alto in the parish choir.
“The choir is like a family, and they are all so supportive of each other,” she said. “They are all so wonderful to me. I couldn’t have had better friends than our choir friends.”
Brown is also one of several seniors who continues to find joy and encouragement in serving her parish community.
A lifelong member of her parish, Brown first became active in ministries in the 1970s. In addition to playing the organ at Masses, funerals, weddings and other services, she also sang in the Marion Choir, the Pilgrimage Choir and the Diocesan Choir, and even did a lot of accompaniments for those choirs. To this day, Brown regularly bags groceries for their Saint Vincent de Paul chapter.
For Brown, it’s hard to imagine going to Mass and not being part of the choir. “I love being part of it. It is OK to be in the congregation, but I love the challenge of the music.”
Fellow parishioners and choir members Virginia and Phyllis Pepe will turn 90 in October. The Pepe twins have been part of the parish choirs both at Saint Lawrence and Our Lady of Guadalupe, and have also served as lectors and with the RCIA program, and helped with fundraisers and counting collections.
In many ways, the sisters are carrying on the legacy of their father – who helped them develop their passion for music.
“My love of music began when I was born,” said Phyllis. “My father sang and was with the Saint Lawrence choir for many years. My ability to sing and the love of music came from him.”
She describes sharing her gift for singing with her parish as being “as natural as breathing.”
Virginia added, “The music is so beautiful, and the lyrics inspire me and give me joy and strength. Sharing with my parish family is also joyful – it is my gift.”
Both sisters noted that they have lived through many changes over the years. “The parish community has changed a great deal over time. It is just like life itself, which is constantly changing,” Phyllis said. “It is an adjustment you make without even realizing it. In other words, it is a natural process.”
Outside of the choir, both Virginia and Phyllis relish spending time with family and friends, and staying as active as they can. The sisters also love baseball, and rooting for the Philadelphia Phillies.
Similarly, Brown also enjoys staying active, and working on chores and projects around the house. She also enjoys spending time with her family and children.
“As long as God keeps me healthy, I am going to keep moving,” she said.
For Brown and the Pepe sisters, the faith they express and celebrate through song has also been a source of stability and strength throughout their lives – in good times and bad.
“It is everything to me,” said Brown, who added that her faith helped her in the wake of the death of her husband, as well as the loss of her son and other deaths in her family.
“I can survive through a lot of hurts,” she said, “because all I have to do is pray.”
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