Patricia McGowan Obituary

McGOWAN, PATRICIA (MacGILL) age 84, of Providence, RI formerly of Somerset passed away Sat. June 21, 2008 at her residence. She was the wife of Dr. Owen T.P. McGowan to whom she had been married for 54 years.

Born in London, England, she came to this country at the age of seven and lived here for the rest of her life. Both her parents were writers: her father was the famous novelist, Patrick MacGill, in whose honour a festival is held every year in Ireland, and her mother, Margaret Gibbons, was a well known writer of romance novels. Her godfather was the illustrious G.K. Chesterton, and with all that as her heritage, it was no surprise that she ended up a writer too. She got her start in the field working in Manhattan with the premier Catholic publishing house: Sheed and Ward.

While living in New York, she came into contact with Dorothy Day and the Catholic Worker movement and together with her sister, Sheila MacGill, she started a House of Hospitality in her own apartment. For over five years they took in young women with no place to go, running the house entirely on their own salaries.

In 1951, she met her future husband when he came to her publishing house to buy books for the Catholic bookstore he owned in Fall River, MA. They fell in love and were married in 1954. After the birth of their first child, she published a novel, 'House of Friends'.

While in the hospital after delivering her second baby, her pastor, Msgr. Daniel F. Shalloo, then the editor of the diocesan newspaper, The Anchor, came to visit her and suggested that she start writing for the paper. She remained a part-time employee for many years, finally going full-time in 1972 when her youngest child started school. In addition, she wrote a regular column for the New Bedford Standard Times and numerous articles for Catholic publications.

Beyond her professional achievements, however, Mrs. McGowan will be remembered for her loving and serene life. Most people who knew her agree that they cannot remember ever hearing an unkind word escape her lips. But though she seemed incapable of anger, she was passionate about social justice issues. While she was still nursing her sixth baby, she traveled to Washington, D.C. for the civil rights march at which Martin Luther King delivered his famous 'I Have A Dream' speech. She was a staunch supporter of the United Farm Workers and picketed regularly outside supermarkets which carried non-union lettuce and grapes.

At home, she continued her pre-marriage practice of taking in those with nowhere to go. She and her husband were known throughout the city as the people to go to if someone needed a place to stay, for a day, for a weekend, for a month or for three years.

In addition to her husband, she leaves seven children and their spouses: Christine McGowan and Brien Matson living in Hawaii, Jo and Dr. Ravi Chopra, living in India, Dr. Mary McGowan and Dr. Tom Synan, of New Hampshire, Atty. Owen and Sally McGowan, of Norwell, MA., Margaret and Brian McNeill of Wellesley, Christopher McGowan of Miami, and Lucy and Robert Cuseo of Providence, sixteen grandchildren, her twin sister Chris MacGill, numerous nieces and nephews and a host of dear friends. She was predeceased by her sister Sheila MacGill Callahan.

Her funeral will take place on Wed. June 25, 2008 at 8AM from the WARING-SULLIVAN HOME OF MEMORIAL TRIBUTE at ROSE E. SULLIVAN 866 County St. Somerset, followed by a funeral mass at 9am in St. Patrick Church 306 South St. Somerset. Relatives and friends welcome. Visiting hours Tues. 4-8pm. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made in her honor to Karuna Vihar 23 Lucille St., Providence, RI 02908, which is a school for special needs children in India run by her daughter Jo. You may also visit their website:www.latikaroy.org. Burial will be in St. Patrick's Cemetery in Somerset. For online registration and facility directions visit: waring-sullivan.com

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Published by The Providence Journal on Jun. 23, 2008.

Memories and Condolences
for Patricia McGowan

6 Entries

Christine Blais

June 29, 2008

Mary,
After reading about your mother, I know why you are so amazing!
Our thoughts go out to you and your family at this time.
We have a collection which will go to your sister's school as requested.
Love, Chris & the rest of the BBRC

Ravi Chopra

June 24, 2008

Mom will be remembered as a gracious, gentle, wise and kind person. She was always concerned about the happiness and well-being of others.

When I first met met her, I was so struck by her qualities that I said to myself,"If Jo (her daughter) is anything like her, then I would like to marry her." And I did.

We shared one interest, watching the national news in the evening. That was perhaps the only time of the day when she did not like to be disturbed. The rest of her time she seemed to live for others.

It was always a pleasure to have discussions with her. I will never forget her remark in one of our discussions, "God works through people." And Mom was certainly one of God's chosen workers.

Mom was God's grace in our lives. We will cherish her life and love.

Frances Mcgowan

June 24, 2008

she was a wonderful person, A fellow Dominican and sister-in-law.My prays are with you all.

Frances-aunt Fran

Cathleen Chopra-McGowan

June 24, 2008

Visiting Grandma and Grandpa was always one of my favorite things to do when we'd come to the US for summer vacation- we would have "serious" discussions , take a tour of the old battleship in Fall River and then settle down with a nice cup of tea.

I remember the times when I was little and I'd ask Grandma if I could borrow a stapler or a pencil sharpener. She would disappear into her home office and emerge a few minutes later with a brand-new, brightly colored stapler. " Just for ME, Grandma?" I would ask, my eyes wide. To me, there was nothing in the world greater than a sparkly green pencil, or a red stapler. And Grandma knew it.

A few years later, we began writing letters to each other frequently, and when I was eleven, Grandma surprised me with a monogrammed set of letter-writing paper. I remember writing long letters on the pink paper to her, eagerly awaiting a response in her signature blue airmail envelopes. I kept all the letters she wrote to me, and re-read each one of them yesterday. I was amazed at the sharp attention she paid to every line of my letters. She always asked the right questions, and remembered the important details.

To all who knew her, Grandma will live on in our hearts and memories as the most wonderful woman, wife, mother, grandmother and friend. She absolutely loved her family and never forgot to ask where Owen (Grandpa) was and to make sure "he had something to do." We love you Grandma, and we miss you dearly.

With all my love,
Cathleen.

Msgr. Oliveira

June 23, 2008

My sympathy to all of you. She was a wonderful person and contriibuted a lot to the evangelization of our Diocese in her work at the Anchor. She will be remembered in my prayers as will her family.

Christopher McGowan

June 23, 2008

I will always love and miss my mother, although I know that she is in a better place now. What she (and Dad)gave me was nothing short of amazing. Love, unconditionally, (though I didn't always deserve it) and the ability to be myself and to rely on myself even though they also gave me the built in support network of 5 sisters an a brother. I love you Mom!!!!

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