Chantel Charity Brown

Chantel Charity Brown, age 48, of Monona, WI, passed away on May 31, 2026, at UW Hospital in Madison, Wisconsin. She was born on April 28, 1978, in Moline, IL. She moved to the loving care of her adoptive mother, Jacquie Piraino, in 1992.

Chantel experienced a tragic event in 1994 resulting in an anoxic brain injury. This only made her a stronger, more determined and delightful person. She relearned to walk, went back to Waunakee High School where she earned a regular diploma and walked with assistance across the stage to receive it.

She teamed that energy with her mother, her relatives and her many friends and careworkers to prove that having some physical limitations did not mean having a less than full and rewarding life!! Chantel sang with the Madison College Choral group for about 7 years until her lifelong hearing loss became too great! Then she got a cochlear implant and continued to sing on her own and with friends. A matter of great pride for her was that she traveled with the Waunakee High School chorus to sing at Carnegie Hall just prior to her injury.

Chantel was an artist with the help of her staff. She took acrylic painting through Madison College community programs for years. Then she took watercolor painting. She created some masterpieces! She also took ceramics which she started in high school and continued through Madison College community programs. She took Adapted Fitness at UW Madison for many years.

Chantel loved to travel. Nowhere was off limits. In 1992 she, Jacquie and her cousin did their now famous “Northwoods Women” vacation complete with cabin and cliff jumping. Chantel and Jacquie flew to Arizona to visit former staff in Tucson and relatives in Phoenix. Chantel went with one of her staff to Seattle, Washington to visit former staff where she especially enjoyed Pikes Market. She was delighted that she was nearly hit by a “flying” fish thrown by the staff of the fish market to each other. Chantel loved her frequent trips to Chicago to visit her aunt, cousins and all the little ones. She went to Hawaii with Jacquie and staff for the all-time greatest trip in 2023. Floating in the Pacific Ocean on an adaptive device was a thrill. Chantel always loved the water and frequently went swimming with staff. For years she took adaptive swim at the Madison School and Community Recreation (MSCR) program.

Chantel went to Camp Wawbeek in the Dells and Camp Courageous of Iowa most every summer where she made lifelong friends. She loved doing the zip line and archery. Back home she took up wall climbing with one of her former staff.

Chantel’s adventures were extensive and only possible because the Madison area excels in adapted opportunities for people with limitations. She was a charmer and inveigled her many caregivers to participate in her varied passions!! Chantel had strong beliefs that people with disabilities should be seen and heard. Her greatest community achievement was as the founder of the Fashion Show for All Abilities, which ran through the Waisman Center for eleven years and benefited hundreds. Chantel excelled as a planner and used her talents for good.

She loved animals and had two cats and two dogs that she cared for. She loved walking the dogs in Governor Nelson State Park and Lakeview Park in Middleton. Her warmth and generosity extended to all people as well. Her gifts to her mother on birthdays and holidays usually included a donation to Second Harvest Food Bank.

Chantel formed close and often lifetime bonds with her many staff from UW Madison, Edgewood and other area colleges and communities. In return for all the fun, she gave them experience in caring for persons with various disabilities which gave them a head start in their chosen fields. The gift she gave to all of us was the vision of endless possibilities in life.

Chantel is survived by her mother Jacquie Piraino and three foster sisters: Mary Mezera Deichert, Lisa Lalley and Katherine Jones Wilson. She is further survived by her special Aunt Cam, many other aunts/uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews and friends. She is also survived by a special friend Jolene Eggert-Ciha who so wanted to be her next guardian and by the many careworkers who she loved and who loved her: too many to name but always to be remembered and appreciated by Jacquie.

Chantel was preceded in death by her Grandma Mary and her beloved dogs (Sahara and Gobi) and cats (Snickers and Bonkers).

A Celebration of Chantel’s life will be announced later.

All Faiths Funeral & Cremation Services of Madison is assisting with arrangements. Online condolences can be shared at www.866allfaiths.com.