Patricia Ellen Rowland

Patricia Ellen Duce Rowland of Williamstown, Kentucky passed away Thursday morning, April 11th, 2024 at the St. Elizabeth Hospital in Edgewood, Kentucky; she was 90 years old. She was born in Hockley Essex, England on Tuesday, September 12th, 1933 to the late Stanley and Lucy Duce. In addition to her parents, Patricia is preceded in death by her husband of over 65 years, Gene Gilbert Rowland; a son, Michael Rowland; a daughter, Joanna Harcourt; two brothers, Derek and Terence Duce; and a great-granddaughter, Abby Louden.

Patricia grew up in and spent most of her early life in the quiet, charming village of Hockley, Essex, a civil parish located in the southeastern region of England. In England, Patricia studied nursing, eventually completing her degree and working as a nurse for a couple years there. It was while living in England that Patricia would meet her future husband. Gene, a soldier in the U.S. Air Force, was staying in a hotel while stationed there during the Korean War Conflict. As fate would have it, this was the hotel that Patricia worked in; eventually the two would cross paths and ultimately fall in love. On Saturday, June 6th, 1953, she would marry the love of her life. Patricia and Gene would happily spend the next six and a half decades together; traveling the world, throwing parties, raising their children, and having the most fun they could have together in life. The two would live in England until the newly weds decided to move their lives to America.

While living in Ohio and Indiana; Patricia transitioned her caretaking skills as a nurse to being a mother of five children. She adapted well to her new home, embracing American cuisine like tuna casserole, and discovering her love of baking fresh Pumpkin & Pecan Pies. Her famous banana bread recipe is still revered to this day. Always a wonderful host, she loved throwing the best parties for her children’s birthdays and elaborate celebratory meals for the family on holidays.

Over the years, Patricia became a well-known member of the community, working at Wigginton and Rowland’s Women’s Clothing Store in Williamstown, while also participating in the Grant County Bridge Club and becoming a member of the Williamstown Woman’s Club.  A very faith-oriented and spiritually-driven person, she enjoyed reading Psalms and always held God as a very important aspect of her life. It was later in life that she discovered her adoration of art, often coloring and creating pictures that she would give to friends and family as gifts. Patricia, a witty, good-hearted, truly one of a kind person, will be dearly missed by her family and the community that became a second home to her here in America.

Patricia is survived by her adoring children: Julie Rowland of Crittenden, Kentucky, Janine (Greg) Heath of Santa Rosa, California, and Steven Rowland of Dry Ridge, Kentucky. She leaves a lasting legacy of her five cherished grandchildren and three treasured great-grandchildren; enjoying the company of her grandchildren was one of her greatest joys in life, she loved them beyond measure.

A visitation for Patricia will be held on Tuesday, April 16th, 2024 at the St. William Catholic Church in Williamstown (6 Church Street Williamstown, KY 41097) from 10:00AM-12:00PM. Following the visitation, a Mass of Christian Burial will be conducted by father Benton Clift at St. William beginning at noon. Later that afternoon at 2:00PM, Patricia will be laid to rest alongside her beloved Gene at the Kentucky Veterans Cemetery North in Williamstown, KY (205 Eibeck Lane Williamstown, KY 41097). In lieu of flowers, memorial donations are suggested to be made to the St. William Catholic Church Building Fund in Patricia’s memory.