Artist Norene Mara, 75, passed away Oct. 26 with her family by her side. Norene was born alongside her twin sister Irene in Indianapolis, and lived there until she married. She had a daughter, Laura, before moving to Sasebo, Japan with her former husband, who served in the Navy. In Japan she had a son, Kevin, then moved to Lexington, KY and had her third child, Lea, and raised the three on Poplar Hill Farm.
In the 1980s she traveled through the Soviet Union on a Peace Tour with her art and after a brief move to Snowmass, Colorado, she happily settled in Brown County for over 30 years.
Norene was an active member of the Brown County Art Gallery and received numerous awards for her work. She was committed to her faith community and had wonderful friends. She loved Brown County’s immeasurable beauty and loveable characters.
While in Brown County, she met and married Steve Mara, a local builder. She had lived in her home many years before she met Steve, who built her home with his father years before they met.
Norene and Steve were married 29 years before he passed away Jan. 2, 2021.
There will be a memorial to honor Norene and Steve Mara Dec. 11, 2 to 4 p.m. at the Brown County Art Gallery. All are welcome.
A collection of Norene’s work will be displayed at the gallery through the month of December and will be available for purchase.
