About This Memory Space
This page was created for Nora L. Brawner's family and friends as a place to remember them, to share stories, and to keep their memory close in everyday life.
It is cared for and added to over time by the people who knew them, and everyone is invited to contribute, whether that is a story, a photo, a few words, or a simple note.
Many families visit places like this not just once, but again and again, especially on quiet days or meaningful anniversaries. This page is here for those moments, wherever you are.
A place to return to when you want to feel close again, to remember a moment, or to leave a few words for others to read. Over time, it grows through the voices of everyone who knew and loved them.
Light a Candle Growing
Light a candle to honor Nora L. Brawner's memory. Each lighting keeps their memory burning bright for 23 hours.
Candle lit burns 23 hours. Come back and light it again after 23 hours to keep the memory burning.
Limited to 5 lightings per hour to prevent abuse.
Memory Wall Growing
Stories, photos, and memories shared by people who knew Nora L. Brawner. This is the heart of this space—a collection that grows as more people contribute.
No memories posted yet. Be the first to share a story or memory.
Life & Legacy
Nora L. Brawner crafted a vibrant life filled with warmth, flavorful meals, and endless conversations that drew people together, leaving an indelible mark on her community through her infectious sociability and nurturing spirit.
Born in Marston, Missouri, to Aaron and Sarah Henson, Nora grew up embracing connections with everyone she encountered, turning acquaintances into friends effortlessly. A graduate of George Washington High School, she furthered her passions at Herron Art School. Her faith journey led her to salvation at Maple Grove Missionary Baptist Church in Lafayette, Tennessee, and she remained active at Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church in Indianapolis. Nora's enthusiasm for football shone brightest during her sons' games, and she filled her days with traditions of storytelling and home-cooked delights that became family cornerstones.
Nora began her work life at age 14 at Dog N Suds, building a strong foundation in hospitality. She dedicated 30 years to RCA, retiring in February 1993. In 1996, she launched Nora's Home Cooking, a beloved restaurant she ran for 15 years, where her children and grandchildren pitched in, serving up not just delicious meals but also engaging chats that made every visit memorable.
Family & Loved Ones
Nora poured her energy into nurturing her expansive family, creating joyful spaces where stories flowed as freely as her renowned recipes. She shared 34 years of marriage with Don, who passed before her, and took pride in her children like Cindy Deakin, alongside a multitude of grandchildren including Natasha, Crystal, Samantha, Logan, Troy, and Amanda; great-grandchildren such as Perry, Marcus, Carly, Peyton, Brooke, Parker, Elizabeth, Melody, Hazel, Declan, and Emery; and great-great-grandchildren Cashton and James. Though she mourned the loss of sons Donald, Donald D. Jr., Adam, and Dewane, along with numerous siblings, her surviving sisters Betty Davis, Donna Sue Wilder, and Barbara Wand, and brothers Alvin and Steven Henson, carry forward her spirit of unbreakable bonds and generous hospitality.
Remembered by Friends & Family
Echoes from Nora's circle capture a woman whose kitchen wisdom and welcoming smile wove themselves into the fabric of countless lives, with shared recollections emphasizing her talent for turning ordinary moments into cherished feasts of fellowship.
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