Rita Rowe

Rita Grace Rowe, 87, of Manteo, N.C., formerly of Greensburg, passed away Saturday, July 23, 2016. She was born Dec. 16, 1928, a daughter of the late Gregory Thomas and Mary Grace, of Youngwood. Rita graduated from St. Xavier Academy, Latrobe, in 1946. Prior to her retirement, she was an information specialist for North Carolina Tourism Bureau, a Realtor and formerly a master gardener for Roanoke Island and Greensburg Garden and Civic Center. One of the many other things she loved was playing bridge and being a homemaker; our mother always put us first. She was involved in both Boy and Girl Scouts, Greensburg Youth Hockey, not to mention a Eucharistic minister for Holy Redeemer Catholic Church and the Rosary Confraternity of the Ladies by the Sea. So when it is said she was involved in the things that she loved she was. One last thing, she spent her time alongside her husband in the VFW in the Ladies Auxiliary. Rita loved her grandchildren and was proud of her children. She will be dearly missed by her family. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Richard Russell Rowe; daughter, Sydney Marianne Rowe; granddaughter, Virana Chantarabunchorn; daughter-in-law, Bernadette Rowe; and her siblings, Mary Stroker, Gregory Grace, Patricia Rumbaugh and Felicia Corsi. She had an Irish heart and spirit like no other. Mom, your date is on your stone now. You can stop asking. You are with Dad and Sydney now! Rita is survived by her children, Karen Grace and Gabril Delvalle, Patrick R. Rowe, Michael and Jill Rowe, Christine Marie and Carl W. Leonard, Joanne Grace Hartman, and Colleen Grace and Michael S. Rosso; grandchildren, Dr. Naiyana Cruz, Sunya and Jennifer Chan, Patrick Joseph Rowe, Breya and Nicholas Strong, Richard William Leonard, Joseph David Hartman, Rachel Grace Hartman, Gabriella Grace Rosso and Richard Michael Rowe; great-grandchildren, Tian and Siri Chan; and several nieces and nephews. Services will be announced at a later date. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society. For online condolences, please visit www.kepplegraft.com.