Elizabeth “Betty” L. (Gallina) Rowden

Elizabeth “Betty” L. (Gallina) Rowden, 82, of Springfield, passed away at 4:06 pm Wednesday, January 5, 2022, at Springfield Memorial Hospital. She was born March 25, 1939 in Maryville, IL to Lawrence “Lorenzo” Gallina and Mary (Bono) Gallina. She married Raymond A. Rowden on October 15, 1960 and he preceded her in death on May 4, 2019.

She is survived by her three children: Raymond Todd (LaDonna) Rowden of Sherman, Michael Dale of Springfield, and Christopher Allen (Laura) of Chatham, and seven grandchildren: Nicholas, Caitlin, Mackenzie, Sean, Mariah, Elizabeth, and Haylie Rowden.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; three sisters, Lee Littlehale, Carol Hutchison, and Mary Harness; and two brothers, Louis Gallina and James Bertoglio.

Betty graduated from Edwardsville High School in 1958. She went to work right out of high school waiting tables at various restaurants in Springfield and working in office positions at Springfield Clinic and Federated Funeral Directors. One of her most cherished times was working with her sister and brother-in-law who owned and operated the Harness House in Springfield. Once that restaurant closed, Betty continued waitressing (The Fairview, The Parkview, Ricardos, and Wayne’s Red Coach Inn) until the early 1980s when she was diagnosed with cancer. She battled by being one of the first bone marrow transplant recipients and won. Betty returned to the workforce at the Illinois Department of Corrections until she retired in 2002. Family was everything to Betty and she enjoyed cooking large Italian meals and sharing time with her children and grandchildren. Her hobbies included shopping, gardening, playing bunco, and spending time with her sister Mary on various trips and going to TOPS.

Visitation: 5:00 – 7:00 p.m., Thursday, January 13, 2022 at Staab Funeral Home – Springfield.

An additional visitation will be held from 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. followed by a service at 11:00 a.m., Friday, January 14, 2022 at Staab Funeral Home – Springfield with Rev. Allen Kemme officiating. Burial will follow at Sulphur Springs Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

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