Marian Rowan - Obituary

arian Stiles Rowan, 41, of Windham, ME, died early on the morning of September 30, from complications of Type I Diabetes. She was born on July 29, 1974, in Pittsburgh, PA. She spent her childhood and early adolescence in Arlington, VA, before moving to Cumberland, ME, where she graduated from Greely High School in 1992. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree from her father’s alma mater, Pomona College in 1996. She went on to earn her Juris doctor degree from George Mason University in 2003. In recent years, she worked as a paralegal at two local law firms. She was an enthusiastic volunteer at Southern Maine Agency on Aging, where as a Medicare Counselor she delighted in helping seniors with complicated Medicare issues, and for Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) walks. Marian was an avid cyclist, who completed the AIDS Ride for Life, and the Loon Echo Trek. She was also a serious fan of indie bands. One of Marian’s great pleasures in life was to journey to any concert within driving distance to support her favorites. Another great pleasure was spending time with friends and family. Marian was an exceptional listener, and she could always be counted on for an offer of help, a kind word, a ready laugh, or a thoughtful gift. She fulfilled her roles as daughter, sister and friend with great skill and commitment, but to really see her shine, you had to know Auntie Marian. This last title should be shouted at maximum volume by excited little voices, and accompanied by the sound of excited little running feet, in order to be fully appreciated. She could always be found in the thick of the action, building with blocks, playing instruments, styling doll hair, reading stories, and sharing treasures from her own childhood. Marian is survived by her parents, Nancy and Ken Gordon, of Windham, her brother, Will Rowan, of Scarborough, her sisters, Kathryn Gordon, of Detroit, MI, Susan Yang, of St. Louis, MO, and her nieces and nephew, Carrigain and Emerson Rowan, Emily and Anna Wilson, and Jae Yang. She was predeceased by her father, Robert Rowan III. Marian will be laid to rest next to her father at Fort Lincoln Cemetery in Brentwood, Maryland. A small service will be held at 11:30 Tuesday, October 6th, at the GEORGE P. KALAS FUNERAL HOME, 6160 Oxon Hill Rd, Oxon Hill Maryland 20745, followed by a procession to the cemetery and a short interment ceremony. A larger memorial service to be held in Maine is being planned for November. Please leave your thoughts and memories of Marian by signing the guestbook located above.