Mary Margaret Cowen

Mary Margaret Thomson Konieczki Cowen, 93, passed away on July 20, 2022, of natural causes, at JBER Hospital. A memorial gathering will be held on September 4th from 12pm to 3pm at Cremation Society of Alaska, 1306 E 74th Ave., Anchorage. A Repast for Mary will be held at 4 pm September 11th at the Chappie James American Legion Post 34, 916 Ingra St. #D Anchorage. Mary was born on January 15, 1929, in Mosinee, Wisconsin. She graduated from the University of Wisconsin with a BS in 1972 and moved to Alaska the same year where she continued her education at UAA and AMU, as well as completing her teaching requirements. She was hired by the Lakes and Peninsula Borough School District in 1975. Mary met Thomas Powell Cowen, Sr. and the couple were married in 1976 in Naknek, Alaska. Throughout her career Mary worked and lived in Chignik Bay from 1975-1976, Chignik Lake from 1976-1977, Egegik from 1977-1980 and Port Heiden from 1980-1983. She then retired in 1983 to Anchorage to care for her husband, Tom, until his death in 1988. Mary moved to Wasilla, Alaska in 1998 where she lived until she moved into the Strong Care Home in Anchorage in 2016. Her caregivers there, Sharon Strong Bishop, Tommie Bishop and Gladys Lewis, took her in like one of their family. Mary enjoyed playing her organ, dancing and socializing at the American Legion, cooking, going for rides and camping trips, crocheting dolls, gardening, coloring and crosswords. She played the organ beautifully. She loved collecting uplifting poems and quotes. She was also a dedicated student of the Bible. She was a member of the Chappie James American Legion Post 34 and a 40-year member of the Anchorage Moose Lodge 1534. Mary will be interred at Fort Richardson National Cemetery with her husband, Thomas Powell Cowen Sr. She is survived by her son, Steven Konieczki; daughter, Carolyn Homuth; step-son, Thomas Cowen III; step-daughters, Dinah Cowen and Rebecca Cornelius; granddaughter, Gabrielle Busseni; sisters-in-law, Ruth (Lynn) Thomson and Charlette (Chris) Thomson; and many nieces, nephews and cousins. Mary is preceded in death by her daughter, Mary Ellen Konieczki Bannecke; son, James Konieczki; husbands, Thomas Powell Cowen, Sr., and Robert Stanley Konieczki; parents, William and Ethel Thomson and brothers, Rae, Jim, Claire, Lynn, Chris and Robert. Life is but a stopping place, A pause in what's to be, A resting place along the road, to sweet eternity. We all have different journeys. Different paths along the way, We all were meant to learn some things, but never meant to stay... Our destination is a place, Far greater than we know. For some the journey's quicker, For some the journey's slow. And when the journey finally ends, We'll claim a great reward, And find an everlasting peace, Together with the lord ~Author unknown