A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Wednesday, January 9, 2008 at 11:00 AM in St. George's Catholic Church, Valley Lee, MD with Msgr. Karl Chimiak officiating. Interment will follow in the Church Cemetery.

Viewing/Visitation will be held on Tuesday, January 8, 2008 from 5:00 - 8:00 PM in the Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home where Prayers will be said at 7:00 PM. A Second Viewing/Visitation will be held on Wednesday, January 9, 2008 from 10:00 - 11:00 AM in St. George's Catholic Church, Valley Lee, MD.

Joseph Francis "Joe" Browne, 80, of Valley Lee, MD and formerly of Buffalo, NY died January 4, 2008 at his residence. Born December 9, 1927 in Buffalo, NY he was the son of the late Patrick Joseph and Hnora O'Shea Browne. He was the loving husband of Phyllis Rita Johel Browne whom he married on May 26, 1951 in Buffalo, NY. He is survived by his children; Patrick J. Browne and his wife Donna of San Diego, CA, Daniel C. Browne and his wife Kim of Valley Lee, MD, Mary E. Walker and her husband Reed of Great Mills, MD and Joseph M. Browne and his significant other Erica of Greensboro, NC as well as 12 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his sisters Ann Kontos of Buffalo, NY and Margaret Murray of Lewiston, NY. He was preceded in death by his siblings; John, William, Mary and Frank Browne and Rev. James Browne.

A graduate of St. Joseph's Collegiate Institution "Class of 1945" he then attended Manhattan College and graduated in 1950 with a degree in Electrical Engineering. Joe served in the US Army from 1945-1947. He moved to St. Mary's County in 1974 from Buffalo, NY after working at Bell Aerospace Company in Buffalo for 23 years. Upon moving to MD he worked for the Naval Air Test Center for 19 years, retiring in 1993. He was a member and treasurer of the Serra Club of So. MD, past president of the Little Flower School and St. Mary's Academy PTA, a member of the National Association of Retired Federal Employees and a member of the Knights of Columbus in Buffalo, NY.

The family will receive friends on Tuesday, January 8, 2008 from 5:00-8:00 PM in the Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home Chapel, Leonardtown, MD where prayers will be held at 7:00 PM. The family will also receive friends on Wednesday, January 9th, 2008 in St. George's Catholic Church from 10:00-11:00 AM, where a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 AM with Rev. Msgr. Karl Chimiak and Rev. Mark W. Ervin co-officiating. Interment will follow in the church cemetery. Pallbearers will be Ethan Walker, Justin Browne, Patrick Murray, Michael Browne, Reed Walker and William Johel. Honorary pallbearers will Johel Browne, Jacob Walker, Dylan Walker and Joshua Browne.

Contributions may be made to St. George Catholic Church Building Fund, P.O. Box 9, Valley Lee, MD 20692 and/or Second District Volunteer Fire Department and Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 1, Valley Lee, MD 20692.