Obituary for Virginia “Ginny” Rowe Virginia “Ginny” Bradford Rowe passed away peacefully surrounded by the love of her family on July 5, 2018 at the age of 86 years old. Ginny lived in Storrs, Connecticut for the past 49 years with her husband Donald (Dee) Rowe. She had Pancreatic Cancer and was cared for during her passing by the devoted health care team at John Dempsey Hospital/UConn Health Center in Farmington, Connecticut.
Ginny was born in Portland, Maine on December 29, 1931. She studied Fine Arts and received her Bachelors Degree at Middlebury College where she met the love of her life, her best friend and husband Dee Rowe. Together they raised 7 children and became actively involved, loving, supportive grandparents of 17 grandchildren.
Ginny was always full of a deep gratitude for the endless gifts of her life. She knew every important detail about her children’s lives, their spouses, and each of her grandchildren. Yet it was her complete devotion and love for her husband Dee, that was the most beautiful thing to bear witness to.
Theirs is a true love story. Her kindness and love for her friends, her devoted husband Dee, her children, their spouses and her grandchildren are her eternal legacy. Ginny was an integral part of the communities of Worcester Academy and the University of Connecticut where she lived with Dee.
Ginny’s generosity of spirit and graciousness always offered her husband Dee the endless support he needed throughout his career. She was a big UConn Husky fan and became lifelong friends with many present and former athletes, coaches and their families at UConn and Worcester Academy. Ginny’s favorite place on earth was Cape Cod where she and Dee and their children returned each summer for a season of swimming, daily picnics, long walks on the beach, bike rides, band concerts, and cookouts in Orleans and Chatham.
Her family gathered each evening around the dinner table sharing stories and memories that filled the house with endless laughter. Summers and holidays on the Cape in Chatham continued to be Ginny’s favorite family tradition. Ginny was an active volunteer in the community throughout her life and especially treasured her decades of long work and friendships with her fellow members of the P.E.O. (A women’s philanthropic organization supporting women in higher education.
) Ginny was full of grace, compassion, endless curiosity, and a generous heart. She found joy in the clouds, a newfound seashell on the beach, a bird’s song and especially in the presence of each one of her grandchildren. She had deep love, laughter, family, great faith, immense purpose, meaning and endless joy.
Ginny is survived by: her husband Donald (Dee) Rowe of 64 years, her daughter Donna Rowe-Korn and her husband Bob Korn and their children Tyler and Palmer, her daughter Cindy Rowe Pelletier and her husband Rich Pelletier and their children Jesse and Justin, her daughter Karen Rowe and her husband Jon Heyman and their children Jacob and Leah, her daughter Lisa Shafto and her husband Dennis Shafto and their children Chris and his wife Hilary (expecting their first child), and their daughter Ashton and her husband Brent (expecting their first child), her son Don Rowe and his wife Gail Rowe and their children George, Brendan, Dillon, and Grace, her daughter Julie Rowe and her sons Aidan and Cormac, and her daughter Jennifer Havlicek and her husband Desmond Havlicek and their children Declan, Cass and Quinn. Ginny is also survived by her brother David Reynolds and his wife Cathy Reynolds, Dave’s former wife Cecily Merman and Dave and Cecily’s children Andrea Reynolds and family, Cameron Hardy and family, and Brad Reynolds, her husband Dee’s brother M. Richmond Rowe (who is predeceased) and his sons Dean Rowe and family and Brad Rowe. Services will be held at Storrs Congregational Church on 2 North Eagleville Rd.
in Storrs, Connecticut on Wednesday July 11, 2018 at 11:00 AM. The reception will immediately follow the service at the UConn Werth Family Basketball Champions Center on 2158 Jim Calhoun Way in Storrs, Connecticut. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the V Foundation (www.
jimmyv.org), the UConn Dee Rowe Athletic Scholarship Fund (www. uconn.networkforgood.com), and the Worcester Academy Rowe Family Scholarship (www. worcesteracademy.org/rowe).
The Carlson Funeral Home, New Britain is assisting the family with arrangements. Please share a memory or note of sympathy with Ginny’s family at www. carlsonfuneralhome.com To send a memorial gift to the family of Virginia “Ginny” Rowe please visit our Sympathy Store.
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