Lucy Owen

Lucy Owen (née Laylagian), age 97, passed away peacefully on February 1, 2026, in Rochester Hills, Michigan, surrounded by her loving children and grandchildren.

Lucy was born on April 9, 1928, in Brooklyn, New York. She lived a long, full life marked by devotion to family, pride in her work, and a rare gift for bringing out the best in others. While she carried New York in her roots, some of her happiest years were spent in West Palm Beach, Florida, where she truly lived life to the fullest.

Lucy was especially proud of her years working as a florist in Pearl River, New York—a role that reflected her creativity, warmth, and care for others. Above all, however, her greatest accomplishments were her family: her four children, twelve grandchildren, and fifteen great-grandchildren, each of whom was a source of immense pride and joy.

Known for her ability to rally those around her, Lucy had a way of making people feel capable, valued, and loved. She was admired by many and remembered fondly by nearly everyone she encountered.

Lucy was preceded in death by her beloved mother, Rose Laylagian; her first husband, Albert Owen; and her second husband, Rupert John Rapiel. Her marriage to Rupert later in life at the age of 63, was a true fairy tale—one that came after raising four children and enduring the loss of her first husband at the young age of 57.

She is survived by her four children: Bill, John, Patty, Carol, and her two stepsons Ron and Steve (deceased) along with their spouses Kathleen (Bill), Julie (John), and Craig (Carol). She is also survived by her twelve cherished grandchildren: Emily, Michael, Eric, John, Greg, Christine, Thomas, Alec, Peter, Sara, Laura, and Joe, six of whom are married to supportive spouses—Tom, Jenny, Paola, Joey, Jess, and Jackie. Completing her legacy are her fifteen great-grandchildren, ranging in age from one to thirteen, who brought her endless happiness.

A memorial service celebrating Lucy's remarkable life will be announced in the spring.

Lucy's legacy lives on in the generations she nurtured, the love she gave freely, and the encouragement she offered so naturally. She will be deeply missed and forever remembered.