Clare Brown

Clare Marian (Oberle) Brown, 75, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt,

cousin, friend and dedicated therapist, passed away on Sunday, April 19, 2026, in Elmira, NY.

She is survived by her husband of 40 years, Lindsey Brown, her children, Gillian Brown

and Benjamin Brown and her grandchildren Hamza and Faris Ayub. She is also

survived by her siblings Mark (Mardie) Oberle of Seattle, WA; Martha (James) Wallace

of Pittsburgh, PA: and David Oberle of NY, NY. She is predeceased by her father,

William S. Oberle, her mother, Nina T. (Burke) Oberle and her brothers Luke Oberle, and

Peter Oberle.

Clare was born on October 25, 1950, in Oceanside, L.I., N.Y., and raised in Franklin

Square, L.I., N.Y. At age 14, she moved with her family to Croton-on-Hudson, NY. She

graduated from Hendrick Hudson High School, Montrose, NY. Following graduation,

she studied art at the School of Visual Arts in NY, NY. She discovered the healing

properties of engaging in art, which led her to take a different path. She transferred to

and graduated from Marymount College, Tarrytown, NY with a BA in Psychology/Art.

She then attended and graduated with an MA from the University of Louisville, KY.

Her first job as a therapist was at Genesee Hospital on the inpatient psychiatric unit in

Rochester, NY. Within three years, she became the unit's Program Coordinator,

expanding therapy services, as well as training for staff. It was in Rochester where

she met and married her soulmate, Lindsey. After having their first child, Gillian they

moved to Elmira, NY, where their son Benjamin was born.

Clare then took a position as Program Director of the partial hospitalization program

and clinical director of the inpatient psychiatric unit at Robert Packer Hospital

Behavioral Science Center in Sayre, PA. Within a year of taking these positions, she,

along with patients and staff, established The Main Link, a community mental health

center to assist in reintegrating discharged patients and outpatients. Clare also worked

part time at Elmira College, Elmira, NY as Adjunct Faculty, educating the next

generation of therapists.

In 2005, Clare was asked to create, direct and implement a new partial hospitalization

for eating disorders, Sol Stone, in Elmira, NY. In working with the clients there, she

discovered that most of them had suffered previous trauma. In order to provide the

best services for the clients, Clare became trained as a Lifeforce Yoga Practitioner as

well as a certified IFS (Internal Family Systems) trauma-based therapist. Clare guided

clients in daily yoga, meditation, and IFS individual and group therapies, transforming

the lives of so many clients.

in 2019, Clare retired as Program Director of Sol Stone, but continued in her private

psychotherapy practice, even following her diagnosis in 2023 of metastatic breast

cancer. Her legacy of service, love, kindness, and compassion will endure in the hearts

of those who knew her best.

The family wishes to thank the entire staff at Falck Cancer Center. Donations may be

directed to the Center for Self-Leadership (IFS) and to the Main Link, Sayre, PA.

Service information to be released at a future date.