Joan E. (Edwards) Rowsam

LOWVILLE – Joan E. Rowsam, 76, passed away Monday evening, May 27, 2019 at Samaritan Medical Center, surrounded by her loving family.

A funeral will be at 3:00 p.m. on Friday, May 31, 2019, at Iseneker Funeral Home, Inc., 5702 Waters Road, Lowville, NY 13367.  Rev. Bruce Chapman will be officiating.  A gathering at the Lowville Marine Corps League will immediately follow the funeral service, all are welcome. Any food donations may be taken directly to the Marine Corps League any time after 9:00 a.m. on Friday.  Private burial will be at Martinsburg Cemetery.  Calling hours will be from noon until 3 p.m. Friday, May 31, 2019 at the funeral home.  Arrangements are with Iseneker Funeral Home, Inc., Lowville. Donations in lieu of flowers can be made to Fund for Hope, Lewis County General Hospital, 7785 North State Street, Lowville, NY 13367 or Hope Lodge, 1100 S. Goodman Street, Rochester, NY 14620.

She is survived by her husband, James Rowsam; six children and their spouses, Duane J. Rowsam, of Glenfield, Judy and Mark Pominville, of Glenfield, Linda Lawton and her companion Rob Chapman, of Lowville; Marsha and Darren Edgar, of Theresa; Ronald and Kim Rowsam, of Lyons Falls; Michael and Susan Rowsam of Spring Valley, CA;  brothers, sisters and spouses, Gerald (Brenda) Edwards of Lowville; Nancy (late Walter) Beyer of Lowville; Donna (late William) Eastman of  Ellisburg; Susan (Bruce) LaChausse of Croghan; Shirley (Martin) Beyer of Lowville; Mary (Ted) Micek of Virginia; Bill Edwards of Lowville; Margaret “Peg” (late Dale) Nevills of Copenhagen; Patricia Hellinger of Lowville; and many nieces and nephews. She has eleven grandchildren and three great grandchildren.

She is predeceased by a brother John L. Edwards and her Step-mother Margaret Edwards. Her brothers-in-law, Walter Beyer, Jr.; Dale Nevills and Bill Eastman.

Joan was born on June 17, 1942 in Lowville, NY, a daughter of the late Gerald A. and Mary C. Bockenhiem Edwards. Joan attended Beaver River Central School, later receiving her GED. She married James Rowsam on August 6, 1960 at Lowville United Methodist. In 1965 they bought and operated a dairy farm on the Number 3 Road raising their family together. She worked at various restaurants and operated the Route 12 Diner in Port Leyden. Joan enjoyed sewing, gardening, making pies, and playing cards.  She loved the Yankees and fishing at Stony Lake.  Most of all, she loved family gatherings with her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren and making sure they always had a full belly and a piece of pie.

The family extends its sincere and utmost gratitude to those who have donated the gift of blood over the years, knowing that it was the blood that mom received that helped her survive and live with quality during many months of her illness. Also, a special thank you to Jennifer Laflesh and all of her home-care nurses, and Samaritan Medical’s Infusion Center staff, for their endless care and kindness to their mom when she needed it most. In addition, the family respectfully requests that those who are able, please take the time to donate their blood to the American Red Cross so that others can benefit from your gift.

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