Alwilda Stowe

Alwilda (Somers) Stowe passed away peacefully on August 27, 2023, at Mansfield Place in Essex Junction, where she had been a resident for five years.

Alwilda, affectionately known as Willie, was born to John and Gladys Somers on May 4, 1924, in West Barnet, Vermont.  She was the oldest of four children; Alberta Dunbar of Bolivar, NY; Flora Ann Shorey, formerly of Camden, ME; and Hezzie Somers, formerly of West Barnet, VT.

As a farmer's daughter, she worked hard at the family's dairy farm growing up. Upon graduating from Peacham Academy in 1942, she moved to Burlington, where she completed her nursing certificate from Mary Fletcher Hospital of Nursing. She went on to work for Fanny Allen Hospital and Fletcher Allen Hospital for 29 years. 

Alwilda married Edmund (Ed) Stowe in 1945 and moved to Colchester, VT with him in 1950. They had two children together: Bruce Stowe of Stuart, FL, and Ann Morway of South Hero.

Upon retiring, Alwilda volunteered for Meals on Wheels and worked part-time for Claussen's Greenhouse. She was known for her craft creations that she often gifted to others. Loved ones were given numerous handmade quilts, braided rugs, ornaments, advent calendars, and cookies.

Alwilda and Edmund embraced being grandparents and took an active role in all their lives. They enjoyed bringing their four grandchildren to amusement parks, country fairs, and the alpine slide. Alwilda would often sneak on the rides with the grandchildren. The grandchildren enjoyed visiting Alwilda and Edmund, where they would work on projects together, snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, snow sliding, and snowshoeing. Alwilda was hard to keep up with in all these activities as she stayed fit and even participated in aerobic classes into her eighties.  

Throughout her life, Alwilda had a lot of pride in her family farm in West Barnet. She enjoyed sharing pictures of East Barnet, Peachman, and Harvey's Lake. She always had a piece of her heart there. 

Alwilda is predeceased by her husband of 70 years, Edmund Stowe, sister Flora (Somers) Shorey, her brother Hezzie Somers, brother-in-law Kenneth Dunbar, sister-in-law Marion (Tuzo) Somers.

She is survived by her son Bruce Stowe wife Irene (deceased), of Stuart, FL, daughter Ann Morway husband David (deceased) in South Hero, VT; four grandchildren, Craig Stowe and wife Rebecca of Essex, VT; Rebecca Stowe and husband David Miner of Jupiter, FL, Eric Morway wife Christina of Carson City, NV  and Sven Morway of South Hero, VT; Six great-grandchildren, Cameron & Benjamin of Essex and Leif, Asa, Fletcher and Clara Rose of Carson City. 

There will be a memorial service at South Hero Congregational Church on South Street on Monday, October 30^th, 2023, at 1:00pm.

Instead of flowers, donations may be made to Vermont Nursing Association, 1110 Prim Rd, Colchester, VT 05446, in Alwilda's memory.