Grace B. Rowe, 79, of Boothbay, passed into the loving arms of our dear Lord on May 25.
Grace Helen Byczynski was born on Dec. 22, 1932 in Chicago, Ill. to Stephen and Helen Byczynski (nee Nowakowski), the fifth of five children. Grace grew up in Chicago, graduating from St. Joseph’s High School in 1950. In the spring of 1953 she attended a USO dance, where she caught the eye of Henry C. Rowe, a Navy enlistee. They courted throughout Henry’s time in the U.S. Navy and were married on July 11, 1959 in Chicago.
After moving to the suburbs of Washington, D.C. in 1963, they had two children, Christopher and Cheryl, before Henry’s job with the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) took the Rowe family around the world. They lived in London in the late 1960s before moving to Okinawa, Japan in the 1970s. It was in Okinawa that Grace joined the CIA as a secretary and office manager.
The Rowe family moved back to Annadale, Va. in 1977 where Grace continued working part-time with the CIA. She particularly enjoyed managing the challenges presented by the Office of Development and Engineering, where she worked until 1983. Following Henry to Maine, her retirement to Boothbay was marked by years of tireless service to civic organizations throughout the community, but most particularly to Our Lady Queen of Peace (OLQP) Catholic Church in Boothbay Harbor. There she found her niche, being involved in a wide range of church activities. She served as a Eucharistic Minister at OLQP for over 20 years.
Perhaps what Grace was best known for was the OLQP “White Elephant” sale held each July to support parish activities throughout the year.
Throughout her life, Grace had a number of passions she devoted her energies to. She was an avid reader and knitter. She enjoyed baking for her family, local social organizations, and endlessly working in her flowerbeds. Grace greatly enjoyed a journey to Poland and to the Czech Republic in 2005 where she and Henry undertook an exploration of her ancestral homeland there, and managed to reconnect with distant relatives.
Grace was predeceased by siblings George Byczynski and Loretta Duckworth, both of Chicago.
She is survived by her husband of 52 years, Henry C. Rowe of Boothbay; son, Christopher Rowe of Ashburn, Va.; daughter and granddaughter, Cheryl and Angelica Rowe of Lorton, Va.; and sisters, Alice Zajac of Forest View, Ill. and Evelyn Murphy of Las Vegas, Nev.
Time of visitation, honoring and celebrating Grace’s life 6-8 p.m., Thurs., May 31 at Simmons, Harrington & Hall Funeral Home in Boothbay. Mass of celebration 10:30 a.m., Fri., June 1 at Our Lady Queen of Peace in Boothbay Harbor with burial in the family lot at Evergreen Cemetery in Boothbay.
In lieu of flowers, donations in her name may be made to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, 1500 Rosecrans Ave., Suite 200, Manhattan Beach, CA, 90266.
You are invited to share your condolences, photos and tributes with the Rowe family by visiting their Book of Memories at www.hallfuneralhomes.com.
Arrangements are entrusted to Simmons, Harrington & Hall Funeral Home, Boothbay.