Rita Mary Rowe (Nee Winsor)

Rita passed away peacefully, surrounded by the love of her family, after a long and full life.  Born to Margaret (Spurrell) and Clarence Winsor in St. John’s, Newfoundland, Rita attended Bishop Spencer College where she won awards in proficiency in academics and her passion, athletics.  She was a Track and Field and Basketball star and won many awards and trophies for first place. No one could outrun Mom.

After completing her post-secondary education Rita worked for McNamara Construction and Concrete Products as bookkeeper before securing a job with the Provincial Government in the Department of Finance.  Rita married Harold Rowe on June 11, 1958 and they raised their daughters, Beverley and Kathy on Vaughan Place in St. John’s. Together with Harold she gave her girls a loving and happy home where friends and family were always welcome and well fed.  Mom’s birthday parties were epic and friends still talk about them to this day. She was a member of the Anglican Church Women’s Association, spending countless hours making her soups and sandwiches for Church fairs as well as volunteering in other capacities. Her stories of vacations at Trinity Cabins were filled with laughter and later, annual trips to St. Pete’s Beach with family and friends brought joy. Mom found pleasure in travel into her later years and particularly loved a recent trip to Lake Louise, Alberta, where the air was pure and she felt she could breathe.  She travelled to Toronto yearly to visit family and quickly became part of an Ontario group of friends, where she was loved.

Rita is survived by her daughters, Beverley Rowe Karagianis (Elliot) and Kathy Rowe (Rev. Robert Earle), her three grandchildren and two great granddaughters: Andrew Karagianis (Ally) and Rae Karagianis; David Karagianis (Sammie); Heather Walker (Matt) and Sage Walker. Also survived by her brother-in-law, Hal Lilly and her lifelong friend, Suzanne (Sue) Bursey.

Rita was predeceased by her parents, Clarence and Margaret Winsor, her husband Harold Rowe, and her sister Jean Lilly.

Thank you to Dr. Amanda Coleman and Tiffany Village staff for their kindness and care.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Multiple Sclerosis Society or the Canada Red Cross in Rita’s memory.

As per Rita’s wishes, cremation has taken place.

Visitation will be held at Carnells Funeral Home from 2-4 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. on Tuesday October 15th. A funeral service will be held at the Carnell Memorial Chapel at 11a.m. on Wednesday October 16th.

“Gone from this earth but forever with us.”