Mary Ann Bowden

Mary Ann Bowden, 74, of Santa Rosa, California, passed away peacefully at home on August 11, 2025 after a courageous battle with colon cancer.
Mary Ann was born in Santa Rosa to Stephen and Betty Jane Kropp. She graduated from Montgomery High in 1969 and earned an Associate's Degree from Santa Rosa Junior College. She dedicated her life to working as a child care provider at Doyle Park Elementary, and Santa Rosa French-American Charter School.
After Sunday Mass at St. Eugene's Cathedral one day in 1976, Mary Ann met the love of her life, Dick. After a brief courtship they were married on February 5, 1977.
The newlyweds didn't waste any time in starting a family, with son Michael arriving just ten months later, followed by Barbara in 1979 and John in 1989. The Bowdens loved going camping together at their favorite spot, Manzanita Lake in Lassen Volcanic National Park and spending weekends at Doran Beach and Armstrong Grove.
Later in life, Mary Ann found great joy in visits with her two granddaughters, Macy and Gretchen, who lovingly called her "Ne-ne".
A voracious reader, Mary Ann read the paper cover-to-cover every day with a thirst for knowledge and a penchant for the daily word puzzles. She loved animals and had a green thumb which she inherited from her father, her "kindred spirit". This is evidenced by the multitude of flowers, plants and trees throughout the family home.
Mary Ann enjoyed time with her neighbors in The Court, where she spent all but six months of her life, as well as co-workers with whom she remained lifelong friends.
Prior to successfully defeating Hodgkin's Lymphoma in 2015, Mary Ann and Dick were active members of the St. Eugene's community for many years where they coordinated the church's Evenings for the Engaged program.
Mary Ann will always be remembered for her kind, giving nature and extreme selflessness. Throughout both of her battles with cancer, she was always courteous and kind to her nurses and caregivers and was never shy to share with them compliments and gratitude.
Mary Ann was preceded in death by her parents, Stephen and Betty Jane Kropp and her brother, Jerome Kropp, and family dogs Betsy, Missy, Princess and Indy. She is survived by her husband, Dick; her children Mike (Britt), Barbara, and John; brother Larry; granddaughters Macy and Gretchen; and granddogs Sadie and Pepper.
There will be a viewing at Daniels Chapel of the Roses in Santa Rosa on Thursday, August 21 from 5:00-8:00 PM, with a Rosary vigil at 6:30 PM. A Funeral Mass at St. Eugene's Cathedral will take place on Friday, August 22 at 11:00 AM, with burial to follow at Calvary Catholic Cemetery.
Mary Ann requested that bright colors be worn to all services and in lieu of flowers, donations be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.