William F. Rowley Jr.

William F. Rowley, Jr., 88
1937 - 2025
Peabody, MA - William F. "Bill" Rowley, Jr., age 88, of Peabody, died on Friday, October 3. 2025 at the Jeffrey & Susan Brudnick Center for Living in Peabody following a lengthy illness. He was the devoted husband of the late Paula A. (Doherty) Rowley, with whom he shared over 60 years of marriage and predeceased him in 2018. Born in Arlington, MA, in 1937, he was the son of the late William F. Rowley, Sr. and the late Mary (Lynch) Rowley. He was raised in Arlington and graduated from Arlington High School. Bill worked at Kent Management and was the part-owner and operator of many bars and restaurants throughout Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Nothing brought him greater joy than spending time with his family. He especially enjoyed when his grandchildren came over on Sundays during the summer. He prided himself on his meticulous pool, his fantastic burgers and that he taught most of his children and grandchildren how to swim. Bill also loved York Beach, Maine and settling in with family to watch college football any chance he could.
Bill is survived by his loving children, Catherine Durgin and her husband Michael of Bonita Springs, FL, Christine Cronin and her companion Doug Hynes of Danvers, Jacqueline Foley and her husband James of Lynn and William F. Rowley III and his wife Abigail of Wenham; his 13 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren; his brother Phillip Rowley and his wife Janet and his sister Linda Solari and her husband Robert, all of York, Maine and his many nieces and nephews. He was the father of the late Nancy (Rowley) Thomas and brother of the late Ralph Rowley.
Service Information: A Funeral will be held on Saturday, October 11, 2025 at 9:30a.m. from the SOLIMINE FUNERAL HOME, 426 Broadway (Rt. 129), Lynn, followed by a Funeral Mass in St. Mary Church, Lynn at 10:30a.m. Burial will be in Cedar Grove Cemetery, Peabody. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend. Visiting hours will be on Friday from 4-7p.m. Donations in Bill's memory may be made to Item Santa Fund c/o Salvation Army, P.O. BOX 847, Lynn, MA 01903. Directions and online guestbook at www.solimine.com