Maryann Florence Fowler

Maryann Florence Pompillio Brower Fowler passed away on April 22, 2025, at her home in Boiling Springs, South Carolina, surrounded by family. A native Italian New Yorker who never completely lost her accent and always wanted you to eat, she was born on March 8, 1951, in the Bronx to Frank Pompillio and Lillian Arnold Pompillio.
Maryann spent her younger adult years in New York, being "the best" full-time mom and, later, working as a bank teller. She never lost her love of balancing a checkbook. After losing her husband of 16 years, John Brower, she made the decision to leave the city behind and moved to South Carolina with her daughter, Karen, in 1988. She married Woodfin "Woody" Fowler in 1994.
Maryann was a lifelong learner and proud Converse II graduate, receiving Bachelor of Arts degrees in Psychology and Sociology in 1992 when she was 41. Though she did not enjoy working with rats in behavior modification class, she did love most other animals, particularly the bunnies in her backyard and her beloved pet birds through the years, including her very spoiled lovebird, Baby. Maryann went on to earn a Bachelor of Social Work degree from Limestone in 2003, having spent her post-college years as a social worker in nursing homes until her retirement in 2018.
She was a member of Eden Wesleyan Church in Chesnee and was active in her Bible study group, which she held in her home for many years. In addition, she helped oversee the church's backpack ministry, which combats food insecurity by providing local school children with meals and groceries for the weekend during the school year.
She was known for her big heart, her love of chocolate, and for welcoming many "kids" into her home through the years. Her biggest source of pride was her granddaughter, Laney. After life's circumstances made her fiercely independent, loyal and stubborn, she passed on the strengths of these traits to her daughter and granddaughter.
Maryann is lovingly remembered by her husband, Woodfin "Woody" Fowler; daughter, Karen Brower Rhodes (Zachary); granddaughter, Laney; sister, Maria Russell (Ricky); sister-in-love, Donna Pompillio; her closest cousin, Katherine Zidel, and her many close friends and family members.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her former husband, John Brower, and her brothers, Frank Pompillio and Thomas Pompillio.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Maryann's name to, Spartanburg Regional Hospice Home, 686 Jeff Davis Dr., Spartanburg, SC 29303