Anne M. Rowling

1922 - 2018

Anne M. Rowling

Lexington - Anne Marie Rowling, 95, passed to eternal life on July 24, 2018 at Blue Water Hospice, Marysville, Michigan following hours of music, prayers, love and encouragement with and from her close family. She was born to the late Frank and Anna Avender at their family farm home in Almont, Michigan on July 31, 1922, the eldest of five girls. She and her sisters all went to a one room country school. As there were no school buses, she learned to drive at age 14 and drove her sisters to school. She graduated from Almont High School in 1940, attended Port Huron Business College and then worked as a secretary for Vickers, Inc. in Detroit.

She met her husband, John A. Rowling, on a blind date - and the rest is history. They were married on November 12, 1944 at St. John the Evangelist in Allenton, Michigan and celebrated 62 years together before John A. passed to eternal life on February 20, 2007.

She was a member of St. Denis Parish of Lexington since 1946 and was active in all parish organizations, serving as lector and Eucharistic minister for many years as well as on the parish council and finance committees and the St. Denis Rosary Altar Society. Closest to her heart was St. Theresa Circle which Anne organized on April 1, 1958 and in which she remained active for its entire 55-year existence.

Anne was also an 8-year member of the Croswell Lexington Board of Education, the first Cros-Lex Band Booster president, past president of the Lexington Lioness Club, a member of the Knights of Columbus Ladies of the Third Degree and L.O.T.A. (Ladies of the Assembly) Fourth Degree, serving in the roles of president and vice president for the latter. In addition to her community involvement she shared her cooking and baking talents for church and community affairs and especially loved doing her prime rib dinners for dinner dances and other special events. She also did many fashion shows, golf outings and fancy teas. She would often do elaborate dessert tables for family parties, graduations and weddings for her children, grandchildren and friends. Her raspberry tarts have gained worldwide fame!

In addition to her community involvement, her most memorable event was attending President John F. Kennedy's Inauguration and the Inaugural Ball on January 20, 1961 where John and Anne were seated with the members of the PT-109 torpedo boat crew.

She considered her husband John and her dear family as her greatest gifts from God. She was a loving, caring and supportive matriarch of her family and left a legacy of strong family values. John A. and Anne valued education and were fortunate to be able to send all seven children to college where they all received their degrees.

She is survived by her seven children, Judy (John) Picot of Temple, TX, Robert (Sarajane) Rowling of Fort Gratiot, MI, Charles (Dawn) Rowling of Clyde, MI, Edward (Kathleen) Rowling of Stuart, FL, William (Sheryl) Rowling of San Diego, CA, John II (Monica) Rowling of Fort Gratiot, MI and James (Jean) Rowling of Calgary, Alberta, Canada; grandchildren, John Picot, William Picot, Robert (Lauren) Rowling, Kristina (John) Spegele, Keith Rowling, Jennifer Rowling, Joseph Rowling, Jeff (Maritza) Rowling, Mark Rowling and John A. Rowling III; great grandchildren, Samantha and John Picot III, Allyson and Jack Rowling, MaryGrace Picot, Charlotte Anne Rowling and John Robert Spegele and her sisters, Eva Bassier, Barbara Korth, Mary (James) Farley and Kathleen Vanlerberghe and many special nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by her husband, John A., sister-in-law Audrey Fraser, brothers-in-law, Jack Fraser, Willard Korth, Fred Bassier and Don Vanlerberghe.

Funeral Services will be held 11 AM Saturday, July 28 at St. Denis Catholic Church, Lexington. Fr. Donald J. Eppenbrock will officiate. Burial will be in the Lexington Cemetery.

Friends may call from 2-8 PM Friday at the Pomeroy Funeral Home, Lexington and from 10-11 AM Saturday at the Church. A Rosary will be held 7:30 PM Friday at the funeral home.

Memorials may be made to: The American Cancer Society, The American Heart Association, Moore Public Library in Lexington, MI for large print books or Blue Water Hospice House in Marysville, MI (the latter having provided tremendous care to her and her family).

The family would like to thank Dr. Anil Patel for outstanding and compassionate lifetime care of our mother. In addition, the family would like to thank Dr. James Fraser, her nephew, for providing gratuitous lifetime dental care for her beautiful smile.

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