Obituary of Mary Rowley

DELMAR At 101 years old, Mary Rowley died peacefully on May 9, 2005. After a lifetime of service and inspiration to others through teaching, tutoring, community activities and especially her social networking, she remained active and sharp until the end. Born Mary Larkin Williams in Schoharie County in 1903, she grew up in Cobleskill, one of three children, where she was active in the Lutheran church and was salutatorian of her high school graduating class. She later graduated Magna Cum Laude from Syracuse University where she was president of Women's Chapel, member of Alpha Omega Pi and active in the women's governing board and several honorary societies. She was also a national officer in Lutheran Students of America. She followed the Syracuse University basketball team through this past March. After graduation, she taught math and Spanish at Horseheads, N.Y. and later math at Bath, N.Y. In 1928, she married Ralph Sutliff. They were partners in raising three sons until his death in 1966. They began their married life in Morrisville, N.Y. where Ralph was on the faculty of the Morrisville Agricultural College. They moved to Delmar in 1938 where Mary joined the First United Methodist Church, where she remained an active member for 67 years. In Delmar, she tutored several generations of high school students in math and was very proud of her student's successes with their regent's exams. She was active for many years in the Delmar Progress Club and continued to be active in the Antique Study Group even in her 101st year. In 1968, she married H. Eliot Rowley, a childhood friend from Cobleskill, and forged a blended family with him and his daughter and son and their children. He died in 1989. In 1993, she suffered a stroke, which only strengthened her resolve to continue living in her own home, which she did. And she continued to play duplicate bridge with her bridge club until the time of her death. She became a strong grandmother figure to generations of neighborhood children, nurturing them through their school years and beyond. Her friendships, established and carefully maintained over many years, spread across the country. She is survived by her four sons, Larrie Sutliff of Briarcliff Manor, John (Joan) Rowley of Paupack, N.J., Roger (Patricia) Sutliff of Delmar and Calvin (Cindy) Sutliff of Brooklyn. She is also survived by 16 grandchildren and 25 great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be held Sunday, May 15 at 2:30 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church in Delmar. Relatives and friends are invited to call Saturday from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Applebee Funeral Home, 403 Kenwood Ave., Delmar. Burial will be in Slate Hill Cemetery, Sharon, N.Y. Those who wish may send a remembrance in Mary's name to the Town of Bethlehem Senior Van Service, 445 Delaware Ave., Delmar, NY 12054.