Patricia Ellen Duce Rowland, 90

Patricia Ellen Duce Rowland, 90, of Williamstown passed away April 11th, 2024 at the St. Elizabeth Hospital in Edgewood. She was born in Hockley Essex, England on Sept. 12, 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.

In England, Patricia studied nursing, eventually completing her degree and working as a nurse there. While living in England, Patricia would meet her future husband, Gene, a soldier in the U.S. Air Force, who was staying in a hotel while stationed there during the Korean War. 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 June 6, 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 and discovering her love of baking. 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.

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, spiritually-driven person, she enjoyed reading Psalms and always held God as a very important aspect of her life. Later in life she discovered her adoration of art, often coloring and creating pictures that she would gift to friends and family. 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; Janine (Greg) Heath of Santa Rosa, California; and Steven Rowland of Dry Ridge. 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 was held on April 16 at the St. William Catholic Church in Williamstown followed by a Mass of Christian Burial conducted by father Benton Clift. That afternoon Patricia was laid to rest alongside her beloved Gene at the Kentucky Veterans Cemetery North in Williamstown. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations are suggested to be made to the St. William Catholic Church Building Fund in Patricia’s memory.