Norma Besser Rowe

Norma passed away October 10, 2013, in Bellevue at the age of 90. She was born on February 13, 1923, in Sao Paulo, Brazil, the daughter of Germano Jr. and Anita Besser.

She married the love of her life, Keith M. Rowe on June 3, 1951 and they were married until his passing in 1983. As a young woman, Norma worked at Braniff Airlines until the birth of their first child. She and Keith moved to Brookfield, Wisconsin in 1961 where they lived until finally settling on Mercer Island in 1967.

Norma was an extraordinary woman who enjoyed a full life. She was an avid golfer and gardener who loved to cook, and often hosted dinner parties. She spoke several languages and travelled extensively throughout the world. Travelling, along with the opera, were her greatest pleasures. She served on the Seattle Opera Board for many years and was very involved in the Opera Guild.

She was a loving, engaged, and proud mother. She never missed her son’s wrestling matches or daughters’ swim meets, and was always ready to bake treats for school or sew a costume.

She is survived by her son, Michael Rowe (Tina Rowe); daughters Theresa (Rowe) Clements (Dan Clements), and Sharon (Rowe) Peters; and eight loving grandchildren (Matthew, Michelle, Kelly, Caitlin, Samantha, Nicholas, Gabrielle and Sophia).

Memorial Services will be held at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church on Mercer Island at 2pm on Saturday, October 26. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Seattle Children’s Hospital Foundation (PO Box 5371, Seattle, WA 98145-5005) in her honor. Remembrances may be shared at www.sunsethillsfuneralhome.com