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Katherine Rowe, 1922-2010
Katherine Rowe of West Fullerton was the mother of Richard, '64; Nancy and Doug, '67 and Harry. They've been friends of ours since 1957.

Katherine June Rowe

Beloved mother, grandmother, great grandmother, and "matriarch of the Rowe clan", passed away peacefully in Fullerton, California, on May 14, 2010, at the age of 87.

She is survived by her children, son, Richard, and his wife, Sandy; son, Douglas, and his wife, Laury Joseph; son, Harry, and his wife, Christine; daughter, Nancy Street, and her husband, Kim; "daughter of her heart", Mariko Koike; and "daughter of her heart", Yukie Duncan; 12 grandchildren: Anne Kleimann, Stephen Rowe, Joseph Street, Emily Street, Andrew Rowe, Marley Joseph Rowe, Matthew Rowe, Brian Thai, Steven Thai, Angelica Thai, Tracie Duncan, and Emma Duncan, and 4 great-grandchildren, Benjamin Kleimann, Jacob Kleimann, Maisie Street, and Anna Street; and her cousin, Nancy Mazzarelli. She is also survived former husband, Harry M. Rowe.

June was born on June 21, 1922 in Vallejo, California, where she was raised. She graduated from Vallejo High School in 1940, attended College of the Pacific, and married in 1943.

In 1957 she and her family moved from Solano County to Fullerton, California, where she lived for the rest of her life.

June was a school secretary for Fullerton Unified School District at Orangethorpe and Woodcrest Elementary Schools from 1957 to 1987.

She loved to travel and visited many places in North and Central America, Europe, and Asia. Trips to Las Vegas were a highlight of her later years, as was playing cards with her many friends.

The most important thing in her life was her family whom she loved deeply. June will be loved and missed forever.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, June 19, 2010, at 2:00 P.M. at Saint Andrew's Episcopal Church, 1231 E. Chapman Ave., Fullerton, CA 92831. A reception will follow at 1518 Robin Way, Fullerton, CA 92835. Interment will be at Sunrise Memorial Cemetery, Vallejo, California, at a later date. Donations may be made to the A.S.P.C.A. McAulay & Wallace Mortuary

 

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From the OC Register on June 24, 2010 at 3:18 PM said:

June 16, 2010
Nancy and I were best friends throughout our early childhood. If she wasn't at my house, I was at hers. Mrs. Rowe was like a second mom to me. I still have many fond memories of her and I know she will deeply be missed.

~ Linda Manter (Shaw) [SHHS '67], Rancho Cucamonga, California
From the OC Register on June 24, 2010 at 3:13 PM said:

June 23, 2010
My family had the extraordinary joy of living next door to the Rowe family in Fullerton. So many warm and crazy memories - we'd all be in and out of the house - June - 'don't forget to close the front door! Got it Mrs. Rowe! Patti! When are your legs going to stop growing! She and my mother were hard and fast friends - buddies - with places to go and people to see - the late night card games - afternoons at the pool - vacations. When our darling Mom passed - June stepped in and through the years has made up for all the missed hugs and smiles Momma would have supplied. June Rowe is - was - one lady of solid Class with a capital C. Rarely if ever without a smile, a kind word and a wonderful laugh. She was infectious and we are all the richer for having 'caught it'. As my sister and I departed their home gathering this past Saturday, it caught me that with my next drive around the street - June would no longer be there at the house for a quick stop in. With a smile in my heart - it makes no matter - June is and has always been with me no matter where I've been.
~ Patti Austin-Murray, Camarillo, California
Larry Jones on June 2, 2010 at 8:33 AM said:

Our family lived on the same block of Lee Street with the Rowe family during the late '50s through the 60's. My brother Doug and I attending Nicolas Jr. High and Sunny Hills High with Richard, Doug, and Nancy. Biff (Harry) was younger. Coincidentally my wife and I saw Richard for the first time in years up in Cambria on May 10th, and he mentioned his mom wasn't doing well. My heart goes out to your entire family. June, as we knew her then, was always the nicest of Moms.
From the OC Register on May 21, 2010 at 7:02 AM said:

I remember Mrs Rowe so well!! I went to Woodcrest Elementary back in the late 50's! There is one thing I will never forget. . . I fell on the playground and scraped my knee. I remember being taken into the office and I will never forget Mrs Rowe holding me on her lap while waiting for my Mom comforting me. . . I am now 57 years old. . . Thanks Mrs Rowe for loving all of us as you did.

~ Craig Kalthoff, Laguna Niguel, California
Ken Slezak, '66 on May 21, 2010 at 6:59 AM said:

Mrs. Rowe was dedicated to her family and to the Fullerton community. She exemplified serving others and that modeling has carried forth through the Rowe children. My prayers are for God's comfort for the family members at this time. We can be thankful for all of the wonderful memories and experiences. Thanks Mrs. Rowe for setting a good example for people like me who attended Nicolas and Sunny Hills with your children
Gail Wilson Sydow, '67 on May 19, 2010 at 10:51 AM said:

To Nancy--who I will always think of with love because of our friendship at SHHS--and Doug and the rest of the family: I'm remembering a wonderful dinner at your house, where we had ice cream sundaes for dessert and enjoyed lively, comfortable and warm conversation. I don't believe that kind of love and warmth ever dies, because it lives in us and is passed on to those we touch. May you be surrounded by the love and care of your friends, just as your mother cared for you with her love. I'm lucky to have known all of you.
Paul Saevig, '67 on May 19, 2010 at 8:55 AM said:

The Rowe family lived on South Lee at Olive, a few houses north of Olive on the west side. It's fitting that this corner is the center of West Fullerton, because Harry and Katherine Rowe's home with their children epitomized our community, and from that home came so much warmth, friendship and good will. Everyone knew Mrs. Rowe, and she was such a joyful, strong women who embraced life and all human beings. I went all through school with my friends Nancy and Doug, and Mr. Rowe gave me my first job when I was 15, at the Fullerton Public Library, where he was the director.

I send my consolations and love to the entire Rowe family. If anyone ever made a difference in her life, it was Katherine Rowe.

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