Leslie Rowles

Leslie Ann Rowles (nee Barilla) age 63, of Woodbury died in peace and serenity at home on Tuesday, July 6, 2021, surrounded by her family. Leslie was preceded in death by parents Dominic and Rita Barilla (nee Bailey) and survived by Tom, her husband of 33 years, their children Amanda and Mike, and siblings Ann, Fred, Mario, and Michael (Linda) and Shannon (Chris) Barber and many cherished nieces and nephews.  A private service and internment will be held on Wednesday July 14, 2021.  A celebration of Leslie’s life TBD.

A woman of unwavering faith, Leslie often began summer mornings on the deck giving thanks to the Lord, as a dawn chorus of birds greeted her and heralded the sunrise.

Home was Leslie’s haven, and her love for her family was relentless and passionate. When Tom or Leslie, Amanda or Mike, stumbled or fell, they caught and carried each other to comfort and relief with absolute certainty.

The first of six children, Leslie embraced the role of overseeing the wellbeing of her siblings as well as everyone she grew to love.  At a very young age she was drawn to spending extraordinary amount of time in the kitchen with her Grandma Bailey, which resulted in a lifelong passion to create and prepare exceptionally unique meals.  Today, her hundreds of cookbooks contain Post-It notes on dishes she tried and liked, or didn’t like, along with detailed revisions of how the authors might up their game.

Bountiful dinners were her norm, and her holiday feasts became famous for silencing large gatherings of loud and ravenous Italians, along with her Irish and Polish relatives.

Leslie lived an extraordinary life of faith, integrity and generosity.  She called on the Lord to take her Home, where she now rests in the arms of Our Savior. Her spirit remains with us, and we can still feel her comforting presence, and hear the sound of her laughter, Oh, the joyous sound of her laughter.

Special thanks to Woodwinds oncology and hospice teams

Memorials are preferred to American Cancer Society in Leslie's name.

Arrangements are being handled by Kok Funeral Home www.kokfuneral.com