Rowena Schlacks Hohman

Rowena was born Oct. 2, 1933, in Chicago, the fourth of seven children. She grew up in South Shore, Illinois, spending summers on Lake Michigan in Palisades Park. During her freshman year of high school, her family moved to Oak Park, Illinois, where she attended and graduated from Trinity High School in River Forest. While serving as president of the Sodality of Our Lady, she developed a deep devotion to the Blessed Mother and prayed the Rosary daily.

After graduation, Rowena attended nursing school at Oak Park Hospital under the instruction of French-Canadian nuns. She completed a rotation at Cook County Hospital, and after earning her registered nurse degree, she worked at Loretto Hospital in Chicago.

During her third year of nursing school, Richard B. Hohman proposed to Rowena at St. Edmund Catholic Church in Oak Park. They met as teenagers and fell in love on the beaches of Palisades Park, where both the Hohman and Schlacks families spent their summers. They married in February 1955 at St. Edmund Catholic Church. Together, they welcomed eight children — Richard, Susan, Howard, Mark, Andrew, Perry, Genevieve, and Clare — as well as a foster son, Viet Thanh La.

Richard Hohman, a captain in the U.S. Marine Corps, led the family through multiple relocations. Raising a large family with unwavering dedication, resilience, and steadfast faith in God, Rowena passed on her faith to her children, teaching them to trust God and adapt to life’s curveballs.

After Richard’s passing in 1989, Rowena bravely forged on. She moved to Virginia Beach to be near her family, where she met many good friends. She devoted herself to volunteering, participated in a weekly prayer group, and shared the inspiring story of her pilgrimage to Medjugorje, deepening the faith of her family members.

Rowena cherished her growing family, making time for visits and calls. She lived her faith and exemplified values of charity, kindness, compassion, and hospitality, making every holiday a celebration filled with fun, food, and conversation. Her home will always be remembered as a welcoming haven filled with children, friends, and love.

As a woman of deep faith, Rowena watched daily Mass via the Eternal Word Television Network, praying and offering sacrifices for the conversion of souls.

Rowena was preceded in death by her husband, Richard B. Hohman; her parents, Howard and Clare Schlacks; brothers, Howard Schlacks Jr., Daniel Schlacks (Carol), Paul Schlacks (Nancy), and William Schlacks; sister, Dona S. Becker (John); and in-laws Burt and Genevieve Hohman, Peter Hohman, and John Hohman.

She is survived by her brother, Robert Schlacks (the late Colleen); in-laws Tom Hohman (Mary Beth), Suzanne Hohman, Donna Hohman, and Sue Schlacks; her children Richard B. Hohman (the late Teresa) of St. Petersburg, Florida; Susan H. Strasburg (Clark) of Bradenton, Florida; Howard J. Hohman (Tammy) of Riverview, Florida; Mark D. Hohman (Lori) of Maitland, Florida; Andrew P. Hohman (JoHanna) of Valrico, Florida; Perry J. Hohman (Theresa) of Virginia Beach, Virginia; Genevieve H. Mancari (Sammy) of Warrenton, Virginia; Clare M. Hohman of Eau Claire, Wisconsin; and Viet Thanh La (Minh) of Ontario, California. She is also survived by 18 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.

The family will receive friends at St. Gregory the Great Catholic Church on Thursday, December 5, 2024, from 9:30 to 11 a.m., with the Rosary at 10:30 a.m. and the Funeral Mass at 11 a.m. at St. Gregory the Great Catholic Church, 5345 Virginia Beach Blvd., Virginia Beach, Virginia. Interment will be private. Following the Mass, a reception honoring Rowena’s life will take place.

Aloha, Mom.