Irene Rowley

“Mama, mama”. Most of us have heard those words sometime in our lives. For Irene Rowley, they were the sweetest words in the world. She truly was “Mama” to friends and family alike, a defining and positive force in the lives of all those who knew and loved her.

The year was 1915 and Woodrow Wilson was President of the United States. American industry was prospering, filling munitions orders for the western allies in World War I. However, events of a less “warlike” nature were also taking place. D.W. Griffith released his film “Birth of a Nation” and the first stone of the Lincoln Memorial was placed in Washington, D.C. In 1915, Kalamazoo, Michigan was also the setting for an event that excited the Shafer family, living on Greenwich Place. On April 24th of that year, David and Josephine (Locey) Shafer welcomed the birth of a beautiful baby girl they named Irene. Irene was the third of four children and she and her siblings Lucille, Joseph, Donald shared a typical childhood for the times. The family later moved to Kalamazoo Avenue, near the site of the old St. Augustine Church.

One of Irene’s neighbors was a young man named Robert Rowley. Irene had been raised catholic, and after Robert converted, they began dating. Their relationship blossomed into true love and they were married in the fall of 1933 in Elkhart, Indiana.

Irene enjoyed her life in Kalamazoo. As a member of the Catholic Church, she had great admiration for Monsignor John Hackett and loved walking through the campus of Nazareth College. Each week she played the piano at the local women’s club, always playing her favorite song – the Notre Dame Fight Song.

Her six children, Jack, Jane, Bob, Tim, Mike and Patrick blessed her days. She was the guiding light and the ever-present support for them all. The Rowley home was a haven for her children and their friends and was often the setting for great family debates – debates fueled by Irene’s fabulous home cooking. She loved to laugh and her laugh was so full and contagious that she would have everyone laughing along with her. Holidays were very special for Irene. With family and friends gathered, she would celebrate with wonderful food – cherry cobbler, pineapple upside down cake, juicy fried chicken and always a “finger nail full” of Tawny Port!. Irene and Robert were good, down-to earth people and were known and loved by the whole community.

Not one to just sit around, Irene also worked outside the home. Her talents lay in the field of retail and over the years, she was employed by Lerners, Gilmore’s, and Tot to Teen Village, where she retired in 1977.

Retirement did not mean slowing down for Irene. She enjoyed listening to music, especially the old standards like Lawrence Welk, Mitch Miller, Kate Smith and Bing Crosby. And she wasn’t above wagering a little money now and then but of course always induced by her son Tim. She liked to play the horses and sometimes the game of Keno. And she liked to go fast!! It didn’t make any difference whether it was in a car or a boat, the faster the better!

Irene loved and was so very proud of her relations from Mendon and could talk for hours reliving her times spent with her many cousins. She loved her grandchildren and a sleepover at Grandma’s was a big treat for them all – Grandma included. As a devout Catholic, she was a frequent attendee at mass at St. Augustine’s.

Irene had always been superstitious, and “creepy crawlies” in her house were never welcome. They gave her the “wim wams” and if she saw an intruder, woe to them. Their days quickly came to an end as Irene covered them in Raid.

For the last few years, Irene had lived in Director’s Hall. Still called “Mama” by all those around her, she continued to guide and support. Her caring ways and warm smile will be missed by all.

Irene W. Rowley, of Kalamazoo, died Sunday, November 18, 2007 at the Upjohn Community Care Center. Learn more about Irene, view her life story film and visit with her family Tuesday from 4:00-8:00 pm at the Life Story Funeral Home, Betzler-Kalamazoo, 6080 Stadium Drive, 375-2900, where the Rosary will be recited at 6:00 pm that evening. Irene was preceded in death by her husband Robert, two children; Patrick and Jack, one grandson Terry Ripley, one nephew, Daniel Shafer, two brothers; Joseph and Donald Shafer and one sister, Lucille Shafer. Surviving are four children; Jane Ripley, Bob and (Kay) Rowley all of Kalamazoo, Tim (Melody) Rowley of Omaha, NE, Mike (Lori) Rowley of Chicago, IL, 20 Grandchildren, many great-grandchildren. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Wednesday 10:30 AM at St. Augustine Cathedral with Msgr. Thomas Martin, Celebrant. Interment Mt. Olivet Cemetery. Food and fellowship will follow the burial and will be held at the Cathedral Center. Please visit Irene’s personal memory page at www.lifestorynet.com where you can share a memory or photo, sign her online guest book or make a memorial contribution for masses to be said in her name.