Last Updated 9/1/00

From the Durand Gazette, April 15, 1982:

Moore's family extends past bloodlines
by Dan Curry

DURAND - Rowena Moore's immediate family was and probably still is the largest in the community and it's getting bigger all the time.
    Rowena's special sense of family has made her not only the actual mother of 14 children, 44 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren, but the spiritual mother of many more Durand citizens.
    And the youthful spring in the step of the 65 year old villager isn't about to let time pass her by.
    As the generation of Rowena's great-grandchildren threatens to eventually total in the triple digits, and as life goes on for her without her husband LaVerne (who died last July), Rowena remains essentially the same person she always was: unaffected, unselfish and above all, giving.
    In honor of many of these qualities, Rowena was recently named as this year's Durand Citizen of the Year, an honor neighbor David Choate said was "way past due."
    Many of her "sons" and "daughters" would wholeheartedly agree.

People person

    Moore has lived all her life in this area and most of it in Durand. She farmed with her husband for 24 years, most of them near Irish Grove, before relocating inside village limits.
    After her children were older, she held a variety of jobs, from the manager of a Goodwill operation to a toy factory worker.
    Judged by the type of jobs she's held, the number of children she's raised and friendships she's earned, it's obvious that if, anything else, Rowena Moore is a "people's person."
    She loves 'em, especially her family. And they love her back.
    Helen Borgman, who has known her 20 years, summed up the thoughts of many villagers. "She is somebody you can depend on. She's always very friendly. I've never seen her upset at anybody. She's everybody's friend."
    Not only does she love 'em, she also helps 'em.
    Grade school classmate and Citizen of the Year herself in 1977, Gladys Bliss explains: "She's always there, particularly for people that don't have anybody."
    One of those people was Leah Hughes, whose parents were ill for an extended period of time several years ago. "She helped me for about 10 years. I highly commend her devotion to my parents. She's highly resourceful, she knows what to do in an emergency."

Fire "family"

    Other than her devotion to family, which Rowena without hesitation places as her number one hobby, she has passed some of her time as a member of a number of community organizations.
    She's been a member of the New England Grange, fire department auxiliary and is currently Conductress of the Order of the Eastern Star.
    But no time spent gives her more joy than the hours she spends as radio operator of the Durand Volunteer Fire Dept. For many years Rowena has been the voice and a vital part of the sould of that grass-roots community group, which may typify the attitude of a small town better than any other.
    "I'm very, very proud of my involvement in the department, it's come a long way."
    A long time resident in a home situated next to the fire station, Rowena found that operating the department's radio was a way to stay close to three of her sons while serving the community. "I had three boys on the fire department. It was a way to help my boys. Now, I'm 'Ma' to the whole department."

Keeping in step

    From her basement "Rogue's Gallery" where pictures of her family hang, to her involvement in the fire department, Rowena's life is centered on serving her family.
    And she isn't about to let any of her family go on without her.
    Her current job at the post office is but a short walk from her North Street house and she wouldn't think about going to work any other way. And when it snows, she shovels the walk.
    "You have to keep active to keep up with the kids."
    Rowena has more than kept up with the kids. In fact, long after her kids are gone, the memory of her unusual devotion to people and especially family will remain.
    And that's just the way she'd want it.

Family affair
Durand citizen of the year Rowena Moore lists her family as her number one hobby. Rowena's basement - she calls it her "Rogues' Gallery" - is lined with photos of her children and grandchildren. Here she points to pictures of her son Bob's children. She will be honored Saturday night at April in Durand festivities.
(ncap-Curry)

Return to LaVerne and Rowena Moore's family page
 
 

Genealogy of Stephen R. Moore - Article on Rowena Moore, Durand's Citizen of the Year © 2000 Stephen R. Moore, 8504 Enochs Dr., Lorton, VA 22079