PRESQUE ISLE and ASHLAND – Rowena L. Burrill, 84, know affectionately as “Mama Row,” passed into heaven early Monday, Dec. 4, 2006, at a Caribou nursing facility with her daughter-in-law, Karen, by her side. Mom was born April 16, 1922, in Exeter, the youngest of 11 children to William and Lena (Langley) Leavitt. She graduated from Exeter High School and later married our dad, Leland M. Burrill, who predeceased her March 16, 1962. Mom moved her family to Ashland and worked hard to provide for her children and see them through school. She cooked at Paul’s Restaurant, the Ashland Diner, Chris’ Diner and the Four Seasons Restaurant. She operated her own diner for a period of time as well. She also catered many functions and banquets, along with cooking each Thursday for the Ashland Rotary Club. Her donuts, pies, biscuits and bread were the talk of the county for years. Mom retired in 1987, moved to Presque Isle in 1993, but still found time to cook for families and other functions. She attended the Ashland Advent Christian Church each Sunday for many years and was baptized in 1983. Mom loved Ashland and her many friends in the area. She is survived by her children, Ronnie Burrill of Lincoln, Jim Burrill and his wife, Karen, of Mapleton and Brenda Mountain, also of Mapleton; her grandchildren, Shawn and Becky Burrill of Winterport and Dylan Mountain of Mapleton; stepgrandchildren, Jon Moore and family of Pensacola, Fla., Jennifer Washington and family of Presque Isle, Lanette Grant and family of Fairfield and Alice Harper of Hallowell; her sister, Lillian Boyce of Bangor; sisters-in-law, Helen Leavitt of Newport, Barbara Leavitt of Woburn, Mass.; special sister-in-law, Jodi Leavitt of Corinna; a daughter-in-law, Tish Farley of Standish; many nieces and nephews. She will also be sadly missed by dear friends, Glenna and Peter Louridas and family of Ashland and Ginnie and Robert Garrett of Easton and many friends in the Ashland and Presque Isle areas. The family thanks her “girls” at Aroostook Area Agency on Aging and Senior Domestics for the daily care they provided throughout the last few years. Special thanks for the wonderful care and compassion she received throughout the years from Dr. Roger Pelli and Dr. Christine Riley, and most recently while at The Aroostook Medical Center, Cary Medical Center and the Caribou Rehab and Nursing Center. Relatives and friends may call 7-9 p.m. Tuesday and 1 p.m. Wednesday until time of service at the Ashland Advent Christian Church. A funeral service will be held 2 p.m. Wednesday at the church. Spring interment will be at Southside Cemetery, Mapleton. Those who wish may contribute in her memory to the Ashland Advent Christian Church, P.O. Box 169, Ashland, ME 04732. Funeral arrangements are a service of Stimson-Ouellette Funeral Home, 114 Exchange St., Ashland. To leave online condolences, please visit www.ouellettefuneralhome.com
ROWENA L. BURRILL
