Suffield Obituary: Gwendolyn Rowell, 98

Gwendolyn Ward Rowell, 98, died peacefully surrounded by her family on February 10th.

She was the beloved wife of the late Willis Kingsbury Rowell. Together they shared over 70 years of happiness. Their four cherished children, eight grandchildren, and ten great grandchildren were the light of her life.

Gwendolyn was born at South West Bend in Durham, Maine on November 28, 1917 the first daughter of the late Gertrude (Engleman) and Harold Ward. She grew up in a family of four children on the Androscoggin River. Gwendolyn graduated from Edward Little High School in 1935 and Holden District Hospital in 1939 with a degree in nursing. Gwendolyn met Willis, her true love, in Holden, Massachusetts in 1939. They married in 1941 in Durham Maine at the home of the bride. Together they built their first home in Holden and moved to Suffield in 1956.

During their long marriage they shared many projects together where Willis always affectionately referred to Gwen as his “Quality Control.” Gwendolyn loved gardening in her numerous perennial gardens which were on the Suffield Garden’s Club, “Garden Tour.” She lovingly cooked and baked for her family, often with her children and grandchildren at her side. Well into her nineties she continued to share that joy with her great grandchildren. In their retirement Gwendolyn and Will found great pleasure in feeding and watching the variety of birds that visited their feeders.

She was fortunate to travel with Willis to many different places in the world including England, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Liechtenstein, Alaska, as well as various other locations across the United States. Maine always remained particularly dear, especially the coast. Out of all of Gwendolyn’s interests her greatest pleasure was being with her family.

She is survived by her beloved children and their spouses: Nancy R. and Stephen W. Fosdick of Medfield, MA; Mark K. and Sherry B. Rowell of Rochester, NH; Wendy R. and Edward F. McDonough of Warren VT; and Lynn R. and Peter C. Gudmand of Concord, MA. She was blessed with eight adored grandchildren: Amy E. Fosdick, Sarah F. Cohen, Jenny R. Pedersen, Susan R. Leifer, Megan R. McDonough, Mark Willis McDonough, Elizabeth R. Gudmand, Christian K. Gudmand as well as ten great grandchildren: Adeline, Max, Sawyer, Hadley, Gus, Samantha, Julia, Willis, Parker, and Vivian. She was predeceased by her brother Russell and two sisters Janette and Maxine.

Memorial Services will be Saturday, March 5, 2016 at the First Church of Christ Congregational, 81 High Street, Suffield at 2:00 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to The First Church of Christ Congregational.

Roberts-Mitchell Funeral Home of Medfield MA is assisting the family with the arrangements.