Mary Louise McGowan

Mary Louise (Nash) McGowan, 98, formerly of Red Chimney Drive, in Warwick, passed away peacefully on February 9, 2022. She was the beloved wife of the late James R. McGowan. Mary Louise left a lasting legacy to those who’ve loved her. Her kindness, sense of humor and acceptance of all that life sent her way are a tribute to a life well-spent.

Born in Boston, Massachusetts in the spring of 1923, Mary Louise was the daughter of the late John A. and Emily (Gunn) Nash. Her childhood was spent in Wrentham, Massachusetts during the Great Depression. Her summers were spent at Lake Pearl in Wrentham, and in Gloucester, Massachusetts with her extended family. Mary Lou was a teenager when World War Two began. She graduated from Emmanuel College while the world was at war. After graduation, she worked in Boston College’s Athletic Department. At the age of 27, she met and married James R. McGowan. Soon after, they moved to the Washington, D.C. area as her new husband was called back to the army to work as an attorney at the Pentagon during the Korean War. After their first daughter, Maura was born, they moved to Massachusetts, and finally Rhode Island to raise their seven children.

Mary Lou was beautiful, intelligent, and kind. She had a great sense of humor and was rarely bothered or upset. Like many of her generation, being a homemaker was her primary job. When her children were older, and more on their own, she taught fifth grade at Cedar Hill School, down the street from her home. However, her primary focus was always around her family. She often shared that the greatest gift one person can give another person is a happy childhood.

She met life’s challenges with quiet, graceful acceptance. In 1960, her daughter, Nancy, the last of her seven children, was born two months premature. Nancy had Down Syndrome. At the time, the vast majority of children with developmental disabilities were expected to be sent away to live in state facilities. Mary Lou and her husband made a different choice. Nancy lived in her family home her entire life. A psychologist once told Mary Lou’s children that their parents were trailblazers by bravely raising their youngest daughter at a time when that was just not done. Together with her husband, she worked to create a space in the community to support those with developmental disabilities. They worked alongside J. Arthur Trudeau to build a facility for children and adults with developmental disabilities.

Mary Lou often worked alongside her husband with a like-minded attempt to make the world a better place. In the 1960s, James was president of the Catholic Interracial Council. Together they worked to find a more just and equal space for people of color. In the final decade before her husband passed away, both Mary Louise and Jim became involved with the Right to Life movement.

Mary Louise loved to travel. When her children were young, Mary Lou and Jim took their children on many trips throughout the U.S., with a travel trailer in tow. Before losing her husband thirty years ago, Mary Louise and Jim frequently traveled to Europe and throughout North America. For the last twenty years, her favorite place to vacation was Block Island, where she spent many summer vacations with her large family.

Mary Louise is survived by her children, Maura McQueeney and her husband Mike Stehney, Judy Romano, Paul McGowan and his wife Patricia “Pritz”, Matthew McGowan and his wife Annie, Jean Wolf and her husband Drew, her son-in-law, Chip Slattery, 22 grandchildren, and 22 great grandchildren. Mary Lou was predeceased by her daughters, Ellen Slattery, Ann “Nancy” McGowan, her brother, John Nash, and her sisters, Barbara Hosdson and Dorothy Dowding.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend a Mass of Christian Burial, on Tuesday at 10:00 am at Saint Gregory the Great Church, 360 Cowesett Road, Warwick. Burial will be private.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Mary Louise’s memory to: RI ALS Walk for Life, “Team Ellie Pooh”, 2374 Post Rd., Suite 103, Warwick, RI 02886.

Friends and relatives who may want to view the service via livestream, please reach out to one of Mary Louise’s children for details.

For online condolences and directions please see www.boyleandsonfunerals.com.