Francis W. Rowley, 96
HAYDENVILLE, Mass. — Francis W. Rowley, 96, passed away on March 28 at home with family by his side following a brief illness after a long, happy, and well lived life.
He was also known far and wide by the nickname "Bowser."
Francis was born Oct. 7, 1926, to Leo and Anna (McAndrews) Rowley in Adams.
After graduating from Adams High School in 1944, he attended Norwich University, then joined the Army, becoming a proud member of the 82nd Airborne Division during WWII.
After returning home he apprenticed at the G.E. Company in Pittsfield, MA where he worked for 40 years as a drafting engineer. Francis joined the American Legion Adams Post 160 soon after returning home and was also a lifelong member of the Elks Club in Adams. He was the Legion bar administrator for many years and seldom missed any state or national Legion conventions. Every Memorial Day you could find him at the Mt. Greylock Memorial opening service and marching in all parades to honor Veterans.
He then met and married the love of his life, Linda (Dufresne) Sarafin and moved to Haydenville, becoming involved renovating an old farmhouse. He loved to putter almost anywhere on anything, loved the outdoors hiking, skiing, chopping/stacking wood, gardening or on a cruise. His love of travel took him to Europe and Ireland many times also anywhere in country, particularly National Parks, museums, gardens, and any seafood restaurant along the East Coast.
He was a man of few words, always polite with a wonderful sense of humor, great wit and loved an adventure.
Francis is survived by his wife and her three children, Chad Sarafin, Eric Sarafin, Laurie Sarafin McGrath (Dan) and his beloved grandchildren, Ryan (Julie), Kyle, Micah, Sarah McGrath, and Edward Sarafin. He also leaves behind his sister-in-law Claire Rowley, brothers-in-law Bruce and Herman Dufresne and twenty-six much loved nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his brother James Rowley and sisters Margaret Rowley, Anne Boisjolie, Eileen Erler and Claire Morrison.
He loved deeply and was loved by many.
Francis was a parishioner of St. Thomas Aquinas in Adams and then a member of Our Lady of the Hills, Haydenville.
Ahearn Funeral Home at 783 Bridge Road, Northampton will host visitors Tuesday April 4, 2023, between 4:00PM and 6:00PM.
Family will gather at the Ahearn Funeral Home at 9:00AM followed by a Mass of Christian burial on Wednesday April 5, 2023, at 10:00AM in the Our Lady of the Hills 173 Main St Haydenville.
Burial to follow in St Mary of the Assumption Cemetery in Leeds. MASKS ARE APPRECIATED BY THE FAMILY.
In lieu of flowers please donate to the American Legion Post 160 in Adams or the Take and Eat Program at Our Lady of the Hills.