Joyce Marie Rowe Obituary (1934 - 2012)

Joyce Marie Rowe, 77, of East Vassalboro, died at home February 25, 2012 after a long illness. Joyce was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease in 2001 and has been cared for by her oldest son and his wife, Laurence and Julie Rowe. Joyce was born in Osceola, Iowa on August 2, 1934 the daughter of Ernest and Esther Sopher Weed. While growing up, Joyce and her family lived in Maine, Iowa and North Carolina. Joyce graduated from Erskine Academy about 1953. She was involved in drama at school and took ballet, which she was very good at. Joyce married Walter Rowe in 1955. Joyce loved going to Deer Isle, her parent's summer home. Joyce accepted the Lord in 1976. She was an active church member and worked at Temple Academy for about 25 years. She was loved by the staff and students. She loved music by the Tijuana Brass. Joyce loved the holidays and always made them special for her family. Joyce loved making quilts and decorating cakes. She also loved singing and had a good alto voice and sung in many cantatas and the choir at church. Joyce was a good mother, wife, and friend and will be missed sorely by many. Joyce was predeceased by her parents, Ernest and Esther Weed, her husband, Walter Rowe and one sister, Esther Farrar. Joyce is survived by four children, Deborah Prescott, Laurence, Bernard and Henry Rowe; six grandchildren, James and Benjamin Prescott, Casey, Gabriel, Annie and Debbie Rowe; three step grandkids, Sarah Bolin, Hannah and Sam Brasier ,; four great-grandchildren, Andrew, Patience, Grace Lynn and Rose Rowe; three step-great-grandkids, Maya and Owen Chadburn and Ezra Bolin and by a sister, Estella Austin. A Memorial Service will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday, Mar. 4, 2012 at Calvary Temple, 60 West River Road in Waterville. Burial will be in the Maine Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Augusta at a later date. Arrangements are with Gallant Funeral Home, 10 Elm St., Waterville.