NORWICH – Dawn Marie Rowan, 64, life-long area resident, passed away early Wednesday morning, April 23, 2008 at home.
Born in Norwich in September of 1943, Dawn was the daughter of James and Ruth (Porter) Sayles. She grew up in the Norwich area and attended the Norwich schools prior to taking employment with the Norwich Shoe Company. Dawn later worked for Simmonds Precision, the position from which she retired in the mid-1990s, but she was essentially a stay-at-home mom who loved her family and was very devoted to her grandchildren. Dawn and the love of her life, John “Tom” Rowan, were married in Norwich on Nov. 9, 1984. An outgoing person who made friends easily, Dawn was a good cook, enjoyed doing jigsaw puzzles in her quiet time, and liked going to the fairs. She was also a great fan of country music and an enthusiastic dancer who attended the dances in McDonough as often as possible. While she loved most animals, she wasn’t fond of snakes and didn’t even like to see them on the television.
Dawn is survived by her sons: Harold “Charlie” Friedel, Jr. and companion Cindy Hudson, and Kevin Friedel and wife Kristen, all of Oxford; her sister; Melanie A. Erickson and husband Ed of Iraq; her grandchildren: Amethyst Sayles, Dakota Friedel and Alivia Friedel; and nieces, nephews, and cousins. She was predeceased by her husband, John “Tom” Rowan, in 1998; her son, James Sayles, Jr.; and her brother, Ivan “Ike” Sayles.
Funeral services for Dawn will be held at noon on Saturday from the R.J. Fahy Funeral Home. The Rev, Ralph Hinman, pastor of the Bible Baptist Church of Norwich, will officiate.
Interment will be in the J. D. Lewis Cemetery.
Friends are invited to call at the R.J. Fahy Funeral Home on Saturday from 10 a.m. until the service at noon.
Please consider memorial contributions to the Preston Pryde Park, c/o Deanna Johnson, 852 County Road 4, Oxford, NY 13830-3293.