Pamela Jean Brown

Pamela Jean Brown, 75, of Dillsburg, Pennsylvania passed away peacefully on Sunday, July 5th, 2026 after fond farewells from her loved ones. She was a cherished wife, sister, auntie/honorary auntie and friend who will be deeply missed by all who were touched by her loving and generous spirit.

     Educated at Hershey High School (Class of 1969) and Keystone Junior College, Pam went on to a career at the Pennsylvania House of Representatives where her creative organization skills and her caring heart allowed her to solve problems all over the Commonwealth. Her truest calling was the priority she set for influencing and supporting others, with particular emphasis on her family and friends. To know her is to love her because she never met a stranger and was a friend to all.  Some were lucky enough to be part of her own curated group of chosen family. Pam loved bringing people together on Hoak Farm and at her home-away-from-home in Potter County, and she was well known for her patriotism, love of soap operas, and appreciation of life’s simple joys.

   For those left behind, the light shines a bit less brightly without Pam in the world. She is survived by her husband and partner of 45 years, Richard Hoak; her sister, Melanie Brown, her sister-in-law, Kathleen Anderson, and brother-in-law, Will Hoak; nieces and nephews who all learned from Pam how to be a light in their own right: Michelle, Meredythe, Brent, Shannon, Gwen, Celia, Lizzi, Rebecca, Edward, Blaine, Evan, Heather, Amy, Carrie, and Christopher, several great-nieces and nephews and beloved cousins, her lifelong friend, Tana Andrione, her workplace friend, Joann Drabenstadt, homeplace friend, Bobbi Mansberger, and their families who will carry that influence and spirit forward, so the world stays nicer for everyone nearby. Family and friends waiting to greet her are her parents, Earl Brown and Margaret Parry, her sister and brother-in-law, Marlene and Vincent X Yakowicz, and her brother by choice, Roy W. Cornell.

   A private entombment will take place at Rolling Green Cemetery with a celebration of her life to follow at the discretion of the family. Her care has been entrusted to the Cocklin Funeral Home of Dillsburg. A source of great comfort to Pam in her last chapter of life was Advantage Home Health and Hospice. Their foundation provides opportunities for their care to be given to people without means to pay. What they did for Pam’s family was truly special. If you are moved to donate in her memory, we encourage you to consider them or any charity of your choice. Information on the Advantage Stars Foundation can be found here. The Living Hope Bible Fellowship Church in Mechanicsburg provided comfort to her family as well.