Margaret (Rowland) Goodnow

Cumberland – Margaret (Rowland) Goodnow, 94, of Cumberland passed away peacefully Wednesday, June 3, 2020 at The Holiday Retirement Home, Lincoln. She was the wife of the late Ralph E. Goodnow.

Born in Exeter, Devon, England, she was a daughter of the late Harry and Emma (Spiller) Rowland and was preceded in death by her siblings, Edgell Rowland, Winifred Joyce (Rowland) Grant and Wilfred Rowland. She survived the Blitz in England (1940/1941) and met a US Navy man, Ralph, and they married. She left England and came to the United States in 1946, and had lived in Seekonk, MA for 40 years and in Cumberland for the past 32 years.

Mrs. Goodnow was a clerk in the Seekonk School Department for 18 years before retiring.

She was a devout Episcopalian, and was a member of St. Michael & All Angels (now Church of the Epiphany), Rumford and Christ Church in Lincoln, where she was a member of the choir, and helped in the Thrift Shop, Bazaars, Spaghetti Dinners and Penny Socials.

She was a member of the Stagettes for over 65 years, who were a group of Seekonk wives that met at each other’s homes to do mending, knitting, and just good old hanging out. She was also part of the English Girls for over 60 years, who were mostly all war brides and transplants from the United Kingdom – they had monthly meetings, social tea parties, recipe swaps, Christmas parties, and lots of talk about England.

She loved her family and lit up when they came around. She made sure to sing “Happy Birthday” to all family members on their birthday – she never missed one! She loved to play the piano and organ, and decorating her house for Christmas and listening to Christmas music. She was always late for everything, but never missed a family event. She loved her cup of English tea with a biscuit or two, and she made wonderful banana bread, English Trifle and Yorkshire Pudding, and always sent you home with half. She loved gardening and tending to all her indoor plants. She was always looking for a sale and had to have a coupon. She was the queen of lists and kept a calendar with important dates – birthdays, anniversaries, etc. – she had them all. Her freezer was always stocked with leftovers and always had something to share with you for dinner. She loved her English heritage and adored The Royal Family, the Queen, and Princess Diana the most.

She is survived by one daughter, Beverly M. Tucker and her husband Stephen of Lincoln; two sons, Roger Goodnow of Martinsville, IN and Bruce R. Goodnow and his wife Donna of Warwick; seven grandchildren, Kristin Sheikh, Melissa McCusker, John Goodnow, Jennifer Goodnow, Erica Britton, Keith Tucker and David Goodnow; eight great grandchildren, Ari Sheikh, Brynn Tucker, Eden Britton, Blake Tucker, Luna Britton, Abigail Goodnow, Bodie Tucker and Evelyn Goodnow. She was the mother of the late Dr. Alan D. Goodnow, DMD and the mother-in-law of the late Nancy Goodnow.

Her funeral and burial will be private. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Mrs. Goodnow’s memory to the American Diabetes Association, 200 Cochituate Road #200, Framingham, MA 01701 would be appreciated. For Guest Book, please visit www.bellowsfuneralchapel.com. Arrangements entrusted with Bellows Funeral Chapel, 160 River Road, Lincoln.

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