Obituary of Catherine Bowles

Catherine F. (McMullen) Bowles, a resident of Burlington for the past 7 years, passed away at the Winchester Hospital on Sunday morning, December 2, 2007. The wife of John W. Bowles, she was 72 years old. Cathy was born in Boston, the daughter of the late Warren and Catherine McMullen. She was raised and educated in Newton and Cambridge. Cathy and her husband John resided in Watertown for 45 years before moving to Burlington in December of 2000. Cathy worked part-time as a waitress at Kareems in Watertown for many years. Her pleasant nature and outgoing persona made her well-liked with all the patrons. She was very proud of her Irish Heritage. She particularly enjoyed Irish Step Dancing and attended many Irish Step Dancing competitions which are called “Feis”. She also enjoyed bowling. Cathy’s life centered around her family and friends. Her house was always filled with laughter and friendship. She loved entertaining friends and family. Her home was always the place to be on special events and holidays. She was supportive to her children and welcomed their friends. It was always a delight to spend time with her. Cathy was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and friend and will be deeply missed. Cathy was the beloved wife of Jack Bowles of Burlington. She was the loving mother of Jack Bowles, Jr. and his wife Diane of Georgetown, Carla & her husband Tommy Rossi of Wakefield, Donna Bowles and her fiancé Greg Gilardi both of Billerica. She was the sister of Mary Akins of Hudson, the late Warren “Sonny” McMullen, and Doris Zeman. She was the proud grandmother of Jack III & Shanelle Bowles and Tiana & Micayla Rossi. Funeral from the Edward V. Sullivan Funeral Home, 43 Winn St., BURLINGTON (Exit 34 off Rt. 128, Woburn side) on Wednesday, Dec. 5 at 9 a.m. Followed by a Mass of Christian Burial in St. Margaret’s Church, 111 Winn St., Burlington at 10 a.m. Interment in St. Patrick’s Cemetery, Watertown. Visiting hours Tuesday 4-8 p.m. For directions, obituary & on-line guestbook see www.sullivanfuneralhome.net & www.saintmargaretschurch.net Carla's Words of Remembrance From my Dad, my brother and my sister we thank you for all of the love and support we have received over the years, and it shows today during this difficult time. We all know mom in different ways. Whether it was a waitress at Kareem’s, someone you would always see at a Irish Step dancing competition or event, or as the person who would have you over to celebrate any given holiday….and our house in Watertown did see more parties than probably the Hibernian hall itself!!! Those parties at 1 Clayton Street were a blast. Christmas Eve was most memorable to me…mom would invite the neighbors to come over so they wouldn’t be alone..Of course we always said, the more the merrier… Besides the parties we were the all about family…dinner would be on the table nightly so that when dad came in it was there…of course Saturday night dinners were hot dogs and beans and Sundays were complete dinners at the dining room table with Jacky and Diane …she would gather everything up for us to take on our numerous family trips - she loved going to the Gilcrest in NH the best even though we had traveled so many many places….Even just sitting in the living room watching TV…Donna mom and I would act like fools while we attempted to get Fucci on our lap…and sure enough that cat always went to mom… The special way she treated our sick birds was something that she had mastered, but when it came to chopper…she just couldn’t treat him the same way, secretly I really think she liked him more than she would say. There is such a variety of memories that you may have….our house always decorate for a holiday….a card she may have mailed to you because she though it would make you laugh, remembering a certain cake she made, a very colorful comment or two she had said, as well as a joke or two…. but for me the memories are the ones that were just things that happened….arguing about what year Donna was born in on our way each September as we would start another Irish step dancing class, or her slamming the pans right outside our room so that no matter how tired you were you would have to wake up, the huge bowls of popcorn she would make for us so that we could all watch a movie or the delicious frappes that we would drink down as fast as she would make them…. Time will pass and you may recall a thing or statement that mom once did or say…just remember to laugh about it…that was what made mom the character she was…I should know as well as some of you….take a minute to think of not what I have said, but if it was you up here sharing a memory or two. As I look back, I know that she did everything the best way she knew how….. I turned out pretty well and so did Donna and Jacky…for that I thank my mom and my dad.