Dorothea Rowe

Dorothea W. Rowe, 85, went to be with her Lord and Savior on Sunday, August 23, 2020, at Mountain City Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing due to complications from Alzheimer’s.  Her daughter and son-in-law were by her side.

Dorothea was known to her family and friends as “Dot”. Dot graduated from Catholic Girls’ Central High School in Cumberland, MD.  She received both a Bachelor of Science and Master Degree in Elementary Education and a Master Degree in Administration and Supervision from Frostburg State University.  Dot loved going to school and often said that she would love to go back even in her later years.  For 45 years, she did what she loved to do and that was teaching.  She taught at several public schools in Allegany County and also taught at Bishop Walsh, St. Michael’s and St. Peter’s in Westernport, where she acted as principal.  While at St. Peter’s, she was chosen as Principal of the Year by the Archdiocese of Baltimore; a first for St. Peter’s and all Western Maryland Catholic schools.  After her retirement, Dot became a full-time caregiver to her husband Ronald until his passing in 2008.  After Ronald’s passing, Dot moved in with her daughter and family where she resided for 11 years.

In her community, Dot was a member of the Allegany County and Maryland State Retired Teachers Association, the Frostburg branch of the American Association of University Women, Phi Delta Kappa, the Western Maryland Reading Council, Elementary School Principal’s Association, Frostburg Rotary and the Frostburg Flower and Garden Club.  She was also very involved with her home church, St. Michael’s in Frostburg.  She loved to help people and always put others before herself.  She loved to make crafts and would often stay up all night to get them done.  She loved her grandchildren with all her heart and thoroughly enjoyed spending time with them.  She loved to read and do crossword puzzles.

Dot is survived by one daughter, Diane McKenzie and husband Kevin; 5 grandchildren: Krysten Winner and husband David, Corey McKenzie and wife Katie, Dr. Taylor McKenzie, Lucas McKenzie and Carson McKenzie; and great granddaughter Sadie Winner.  She is also survived by her sister, Irene McVeigh and brother, Jim Wilson and several nieces and nephews.  Dot is preceded in death by her parents, her husband Ronald Rowe and her sister Mary Rose Claypool.

The family would like to thank: Emilee Conner, Alison Drew, Cheryl Broadwater, Sonya Umstot and the doctors and staff at Mountain City Center for Rehab and Nursing for the incredible love and care that they provided to our mom and grandmother.  You all hold a special place in our hearts! Thank you!

Family and friends will be received at Durst Funeral Home, 57 Frost Ave, Frostburg, MD, on Thursday, August 27, 2020, from noon to 2 pm.  A Funeral Mass will follow at Divine Mercy St. Michael’s Catholic Church with Father Ed Hendricks serving as Celebrant.

Interment will be in Maryland Veterans Cemetery at Rocky Gap on Friday, August 28, 2020, at 10 am.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial donations, in Dot’s name, be made to Alzheimer’s Association, 1850 York Road, Suite D, Timonium, MD 21093.