Jane Marie Bowling, 97, passed away on November 23, 2022, peacefully in her home surrounded by family. The oldest of seven children, she was born on March 7, 1925 to James Martin and Kathleen Dant Bowling in New Hope, Kentucky. She married her loving husband, Bernard Bowling, Sr., on August 7, 1945, and they were blessed with 10 children.
Jane and Bernie were founding members of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish and they owned and operated Plehn’s Bakery. The apartment above the bakery also served as their first home. Jane was a member of the Our Lady of Lourdes Altar Society, the Queen’s Daughters, and the Louisville Baker Ladies Association. Jane had a special devotion to the Blessed Mother, which inspired her pilgrimages to Medjugorje and Guadalupe. Following these trips, she continued to travel the world into her late 70s – from Alaska, to Russia, China, New Zealand and many more.
While she was a seasoned traveler, her favorite places in the world to spend time were with her family at Rough River Lake and at Notre Dame. The lake house that Bernie and Jane built in 1970 continues to be a special gathering place for her family today. Notre Dame football games also marked many happy weekends together with family, particularly visits to the Grotto – as this was the first stop on Jane and Bernie’s honeymoon.
Jane was preceded in death by her husband, Bernard Bowling, Sr., her two sons, Patrick Bowling and Timothy Bowling, her daughter-in-law, Tammy Bowling, and a great grandson, Walker Davenport. She was also preceded in death by her parents, Kathleen and Martin Bowling, her brother, James Martin Bowling, Jr., and her sisters, Dottie Ann Beam Browning and Phoebe Woods Mattingly.
She is survived by her children, Bernard Bowling, Jr. (Mary), Kathy Gotting (Jack), Ted Bowling (Karen), Michael Bowling (Jan), daughter-in-law Donna Bowling, Barbara Freibert (Don), Alice Bowling, Daniel Bowling (Mary Catherine), Mary Ann Armstrong (Aaron), and her 24 grandchildren and 32 great grandchildren. She is also survived by her brother, John Bowling (Mary Joe) and her sisters, Nancy Ellen Wathen and Mattie Jo Cheshire (Gene).
We want to give special thanks to Jane’s devoted caregivers, Mercy Works and Hosparus of Louisville.
Funeral arrangements: Visitation is from 1:00 PM - 6:00 PM on Sunday, November 27, at Highlands Funeral Home, 3331 Taylorsville Road. The Funeral Mass of Christian Burial is at 11:00 AM on Monday, November 28, at Our Lady of Lourdes Church, 510 Breckenridge Lane. Burial is to follow at Calvary Cemetery, 1600 Newburg Road.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Mass of the Air, Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, or St. Xavier High School.