Obituary of Clare Bowman

We are saddened to announce the unexpected and sudden death of Clare Louise Bowman, of Sun City Center, Florida on January 18, 2009. She is survived by her four children, Mary Alice, Patrick, Elizabeth and Margaret Mary, as well as her sister, Elizabeth Wishart. Clare was the beloved wife of the late Robert G. Bowman, M.D. She was born in Taunton, Massachusetts to Alice Mae and Edward Hanrahan on July 17, 1933. Clare attended St. Mary's High School and then Stone Hill College where she majored in history and received a Bachelor of Arts in 1955. After graduating, she worked in social work services for the City of Boston. She ventured into many fields during her life, and her skills enabled her to succeed wherever her interests led. She went on to receive a Master of Arts in Education at Bridgewater State College. She taught both elementary and high school in Long Island, New York, South Bend, Indiana and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, spending many years teaching at St. Bernard's parochial school. Later, she became the office manager of her husband's private practice in psychiatry. As an essential part of that work, she developed one of the first in-home counseling programs for troubled youth in rural Western Pennsylvania. Her motherly ways provided advice and guidance to patients and counselors alike. She had a special way of encouraging people to reach their potential, and tried to help them achieve their goals. She was creative by nature, so that whoever was lucky enough to know her would also be lucky enough to get one of her quilts, sweaters, or more recently, a stained-glass clock. Being a native of New England, she had a subtle connection to that part of the country that she never lost. You could hear it in her speech, and you could taste it in her family recipes: clam chowder, baked beans, fish cakes, apple pie, and so much more. She met and married Robert while teaching in South Bend, beginning her life as a wife and mother. They traveled to Boston, Rochester, and Germany, and finally settled in Pittsburgh. Our parents had a wonderful companionship that lasted over forty-five years. Their lives together were marked by an abiding friendship that emphasized cooking, traveling, and taking care of their children. Her distinctive energy and generosity were limitless. She was thoughtful and kind, and those who knew her always benefited from her compassion. There was joy in giving for her which made Christmas her favorite time of year and a magical holiday for our family. After Robert passed in 2005, she moved to Sun City Center, Florida and, true to her nature, began to create a new life for herself. She once again became involved in many different organizations. She was part of the Catholic Women's Club, the Red Hat Society, the Garden Club, the Stained Glass Club, and participated in the Sun City Center Security Patrol. Finding her way in this new place, she found warm and welcoming friends. Her character contained creativity, kindness, endless energy, wisdom and strength. She could tell a great story. In her last moments, she said to her daughter, "Lizzie, I've had a good life." In these last few days, it seems too short to us now. We miss her dearly. A memorial mass is being held at the Prince of Peace Catholic Church in Sun City Center, Fla at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, January 21, 2009. An additional service will be held in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on January 31, 2009 at St. Bernard's Church.