Helen Bowler

On June 3, 2014, Helen Furlong Bowler died in her home in Charleston, South Carolina. She was predeceased by her husband Michael F. Bowler, Jr, her brothers Joseph, Henry, John, and Robert Furlong and her sister Jane Furlong Cahill. She is survived by her son Michael (Dianne) , her daughter Susan (Charles Golembeske), her son Joseph (Petra), her son John (Judy), her daughter Patricia (Michael Llorca), and her daughter Maureen. She is also survived by her grandchildren Monica Knight, Timothy Golembeske, Andrew Golembeske, Joseph Golembeske, Matthew Bowler, Bryant Bowler, Peter Michael Bowler, and Catherine Bowler. She is also survived by her great-grandchildren Kara Grace Knight, Sophia Golembeske, and Sansa Rose Golembeske. Helen was born on March 13, 1929 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She graduated second in her class from Hallahan High School in Philadelphia. She was a devout Catholic. Prior to her marriage she worked for the Bell Telephone Company as a customer service representative, and after raising her children, she returned to work for Southern Illinois University. In her youth she was the AAU Mid Atlantic champion in three strokes. She enjoyed swimming her entire life. She was an avid reader. She volunteered as a swimming instructor for Camp High Hope and she was also a hospice volunteer. After retiring, she and her husband traveled extensively throughout the United States and Europe. As a military wife she was able to live in many different places including England and Spain. She was a member of St. Thomas the Apostle Church for over 40 years. She was active in her church as both a lector and a lay Eucharistic Minister. A wake will be held on June 5th from 5PM to 7PM at the home of Dianne and Michael Bowler located at 2359 Mac Laura Hall Avenue, Charleston, SC. A Memorial Mass will be held at St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church on Dorchester Road on June 6th at 10AM. She will be buried at Beaufort National Cemetery. The interment will be private. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church Building Fund. ARRANGEMENTS BY PALMETTO CREMATION SOCIETY, CHARLESTON, SC.