Etienne Mary Bowen

Etienne Mary Bowen, also known to many loved ones as “Esch” or “Ethany”, was born the last of eight children in Arverne, NY on January 19, 1937 to the late Austin Coker and Ismay Thompson. Etienne was preceded in passing in 2004 by her late husband of twenty-eight years Ezra E. Bowen. She is survived by: her children Coker Bowen and Betty Bowen; her sister Aieleen Joseph, her brother Aclan Coker; the following nieces: Ismay Joseph, Vilma Turner, Leatrice Lightfoot, Lorna Ware, and Deirdre Coker- Major; the following nephews: Selvin Gabriel, Duane Hamilton, Strickland Joseph, and Benton Joseph; her God children Christopher Robertson, Danequa Robertson and Ismay Joseph and extended family from the Coker, Delgado, Martin, Robinson, Robertson,Thompson, Bowen, DeBerry, Dill, Ramsey, Bryant-Wright and Karteron families. Etienne was born and raised in New York and was a Rockaway girl through and through. She always loved having family gatherings, taking the A-train into the city for some big event, and going to the beach every opportunity she could get. She always about bringing joy and love to every environment she was in which is why she always loved great music, dancing, food, and always lending an ear to loved ones whenever they needed it. There was hardly ever a time where she was not on the phone speaking to someone giving them advice about something. Unless it was when she was traveling the seas to some tropical paradise since the only waters Etienne loved as much as Rockaway’s beaches were those of the Caribbean. Etienne worked for the New York Telephone Company for over thirty years up until her retirement in the late 1980s. She was also a proud member of St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Rockaway Beach, NY and also volunteered for the congregation as a Confraternity of Christian Doctrine (CCD) Instructor from 1987 – 1989 because she loved helping children as much as she loved her faith. Etienne then moved to Virginia in 1993 and became part of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Manassas, VA for twenty years prior to moving to Gainesville, VA in the late part of 2013. She was always one to help children dream big, see the potential within them that others could not, and did everything within her power to help them achieve their goals. If Etienne was babysitting someone’s child, or having them temporarily stay with her whenever needed to assist their parents, she would be taking them on a journey somewhere to broaden their horizons. Any excuse to travel somewhere to a land far away was always a good one. Even if the money was not always there, her heart was as big as a pot of gold and would do everything in her power to make their one small dream, a reality. Even though illness took away some of her ability to see friends and family later in life, she would always continue to try to stay in contact with everyone as much as possible. Etienne always met you with a glowing smile on her face regardless of how she was feeling, all because her care and concern for others was always greater than for her own. She even helped take care of her parents, siblings, and husband when they were in ill health prior to their respective passing even during times when she was ill herself. While Etienne will be greatly missed, we know that she has been welcomed with open arms by our Heavenly Father and reunited with all of our loved ones that have previously taken that journey Home. Knowing that she has taken that journey is what will continue to give us solace and the ability to celebrate her wonderful life. The family will receive friends at Pierce Funeral Home; 9609 Center Street, Manassas, VA on Wednesday, March 11, 2015 from 6-8 PM. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, 8213 Linton Hall Road, Gainesville, VA on Thursday, March 12, 2015 at 11:00 AM followed by interment in Stonewall Memory Gardens. In lieu of flowers the family suggest that donations be made to either Alzheimer’s Association, 11240 Waples Mill Road, Suite 402, Fairfax, VA 22030 (http://alz.org/) or Arthritis Foundation 2201 West Broad Street, Suite 100, Richmond, VA 23220 http://www.arthritis.org/ ) or to Vitas Hospice 1604 Spring Hill Road, Suite 450, Vienna, VA 22182 (http://www.vitas.com/community-page). ________________________________________

Etienne Mary Bowen

January 19, 1937 - February 28, 2015