Joanne Urban Brill

September 19, 1931 - April 5, 2021

Joanne Cecelia Urban Brill, 89, of Annapolis passed away peacefully at home surrounded by loved ones early in the morning of April 5, 2021. She was born on September 19,1931 in Toledo, Ohio the eldest of three children of the late Anthony and Theresa Urban. She attended St. Vincent’s School of Nursing; Prince George’s and Anne Arundel Community College; University of MD Stanhope Institute and Drake International Academy. She had careers in Critical Care, Emergency, Orientation and Liaison Nursing; Assistant Director of Nursing for Hope House, a 28-day treatment program for alcohol and substance abuse; Director of Client Services for an international health care organization in Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia. She was also one of the “first'' successful female new automobile sales consultants in Maryland. Joanne has lived in Euclid, Ohio; London, England (4 years), Bowie, Crofton and Annapolis. She married the love of her life, Donald William Brill also known as “darling and ye ole tree trimmer” and the most patient human on earth in 1981 and who has been greatly missed since December 2019. They had 38 wonderful years together. After prior marriages, they blended families and collectively had five children. Joanne is survived by Juliane (Mackey) Beall (Andy), Michael Mackey (Jessica), Carole (Brill) Owen (Craig), Jan Brill (Jeny Schweitzer) and 10 grandchildren, Brandon & Grant Packwood, Andrew & Connor Beall, Michael Mackey Jr., Alex (Megan) & Isaac Owen, Miles, Joyce, & Jennifer Brill, and 2 great grandchildren Liam Mackey and Amelia Owen. She was preceded in death by her beloved daughter, Elaine Joanne Packwood in 2017. Joanne enjoyed playing Bridge, Mah Jongg, chess, reading, opera, theatre, dancing, jazz concerts, music, museums, art, travel and learning golf. She always loved living in Heritage Harbor because there were so many talented people who “gave so much of themselves to the community”. She was very active in the drama club and played many roles very fitting of her personality and had many friends throughout the community. She was a little busy over her lifetime with Civic Activities. Community and Civic Activist. Federated Women’s Clubs of Bowie, Crofton, Goddard and Annapolis at Heritage Harbour; The National Symphony Guild and Prince George's General Hospital Guild, the Democratic Women’s Club, the Republican Women's Club and the Naval Academy Women's Club. Worked as a book judge at election time. While in England, she was a member of the United States Air Force Officers Wives Club, where she held the position of Angelo-American Chairman for the British Houses of Parliament. This was a position elected by government officials to promote Angelo-American public relations for which she was very proud to serve. As public facilitator for the “English Speaking Union'', she worked on the reception committee to welcome foreign dignitaries with the U.S. Ambassador’s wife, the Honorable Mrs. J.H. Whitney. While in England, she instructed officer’s wives in protocol and also authored the “Society” column in the military base paper calling herself the “Gal About Town”, She also referred to herself as “Baroness” throughout her life. Apparently the opportunities she missed was not “replacing the Indian Princess on the Howdy Doody show; participating in the setting up of a new hospital in Saudi Arabia; and flying with the local helicopter shock trauma team”, but it certainly was a life well lived! Joanne was a loving Mother, Nana, and Wife. She will be dearly missed. Our family could not be more grateful for the wonderful caregivers that have been by our side for years loving her like family, as we do them. A Mass will be held at St. Christopher's Catholic Church in Chester, MD on May 22, 2021 at 11 AM, followed by a graveside service at St. Peter's Catholic Cemetery in Queenstown, MD. Should friends desire, contributions may be sent to Hospice of the Chesapeake, Philanthropy at 90 Ritchie Highway, Pasadena MD 21122 in her memory.