COCHITUATE: Grace I. (Palmer) Bowen, 98, died peacefully and comfortably at her residence on Friday evening November 13, 2015.
She was born in Somerville on October 16, 1917 the daughter of the late Carl A. Palmer and Amelia (Barone) Palmer.
Grace is survived by her devoted husband of 47 years, Robert H. “Bob” Bowen of Wayland and her loving and cherished son J. Kevin Courchine and his wife Judy Courchine of Wayland. Beloved grandmother of Brian P. Courchine and his wife Jessica of Peterborough, NH and Allison C. Courchine of Woonsocket, RI. Step-mother of Dotty Ripaldi and her husband Frank Ripaldi of Bellingham and Dennis Gray of Oro Valley, AZ. Sister of Rita I. Burke of Wayland and the late Bernice C. Wojcik and Lillian A. Adams. She was the wife of the late Joseph A. Courchine who died in 1948. Also survived by several nieces and nephews.
Grace has been a lifelong resident of Cochituate and graduated from Wayland High School with the Class of 1935. She began a long and dedicated 31 year career for the Town of Wayland starting as a secretary in the Town Clerk’s Office, then became the Assistant Town Clerk and was elected by the residents of Wayland as the Town Clerk which she served for nine years and retired in 1986. Grace was a lifelong communicant of Saint Zepherins Church and was a member of the Legion of Mary, a member of the Womens Club and participated in many church fairs. She loved to garden and had an extensive flower garden at her home in Cochituate. Upon her retirement, she and Bob enjoyed traveling especially on cruises and to Europe. She also loved to spend many summers with her family at their summer home in Dennisport. She was a loving and devoted mother to her son Kevin who was the center of her life and shared a very special relationship with him. She will be fondly remembered by all the lives that she touched.
Visitations will be held on Tuesday, November 17, 2015 from 5:00 to 7:00 pm at the John C. Bryant Funeral Home, 56 Pemberton Road (Off Rte 30), Cochituate Village, Wayland.
Family and friends may gather at the funeral home on Wednesday, November 18, 2015 at 9:00 am followed by her Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 am at Good Shepherd Parish at St. Zepherins Church, 99 Main St (Rte 27), Cochituate Village, Wayland.
Interment will follow in the Bowen family lot in St. Zepherin Cemetery in Cochituate.
For those who desire, gifts in Grace’s memory may be sent to Rosie’s Place, 889 Harrison Ave, Boston, MA 02118.