Carlena "Carla" Padua Rowell

Carlena “Carla” Maria Padua Rowell was born on August 15, 1944, in Sacramento, CA. Carla passed away peacefully, surrounded by her son and husband on February 19, 2023 in Redding, CA.

Carla spent her childhood years living in Sacramento and Stockton. She graduated from Stanford Home in 1962. She received her Associate of Arts from Fresno City College in Fresno, CA in 1972. She continued to work with young children until she acquired a degree in Criminal Justice. In 1992, she received her Bachelors of Arts degree from California State University-Stanislaus, Turlock, CA.

Carla’s true passion was in teaching as she loved working with young children. Carla was a Head Start teacher at Shackelford & Robertson Road Schools in Modesto CA from 1982-1989. She then became a Latchkey Teacher at John Muir School in Modesto, CA from 1989-1992. For the next 25 years, she would remain a State Preschool Teacher at Garrison Preschool in Modesto, CA until she retired.

Carla married Charles Taylor in Palo Alto, CA in 1965 and they had a son, Christopher Taylor in 1973. They divorced in 1989. She married John Rowell in Monterey, CA in 1992. John and Carla moved to Redding in 2019.

Carla was predeceased by her father, Miguel Padua and her mother, Virginia DeCoster. She is survived by her husband, John Rowell of Redding, CA, son Chris (Misti) Taylor of San Diego, CA, stepson, Mark Rowell of Sonoma, CA, stepson Brad (Karling) Rowell of Sonoma, CA, stepdaughter, Amy (Mike) Bonillas of Los Banos, brother George (Sandra) Padua of Hayward, CA, nephew Cornell (Precious) Padua, of Hayward, CA, and her three grandchildren, Hailey, Elin and Luka.

In addition to teaching, Carla was an avid runner and competed in countless events spanning over decades. She was a breast cancer survivor and became the Co-Founder of the Cancer Awareness Run & Ride in Modesto. She was a member of the Modesto Garden Club, and also continued to touch many children’s’ lives even after retirement. She dedicated her life to mentoring and helping anyone who knew her. Every day she illustrated she was a true angel walking amongst us through her actions. She was active in her community and very involved in church. She taught kindness to all those around her.

In memory of Carla, we ask that donations be made to American Cancer Society or Turtle Bay Animal Fund that Carla gave her heart to for many years.

A Celebration of Life will be held at All Saints Episcopal Church, 2150 Benton Dr., Redding, CA on April 29th, 2023 from 2-5 p.m.