Susan Rowe

Susan Rowe, aka Susan Marie Smith-Rowe, was born February 20, 1956 in Anderson, Indiana to her parents, Jo Ann Smith and John Warren Smith.   She passed away peacefully in her sleep at Hinds Hospice in Fresno, California in the early morning hours on November 16, 2023, following an extended illness caused by a malignant brain tumor of a type known as glioblastoma.

Susan attended Anderson High School in Anderson, Indiana, as did her eventual husband Michael Rowe.  Susan and Mike both were graduates of the AHS Class of 1974.  Both of them attended Indiana University in Bloomington, where Susan was a ballet major and a member of Alpha Phi sorority.  Susan loved the arts and was a very talented singer and dancer and performed in many plays and musicals during her high school and college years.  When Mike completed his studies at Notre Dame Law School, they moved to California.  Susan and Mike were married on June 25, 1983 at St. Mary’s Church in Anderson, Indiana.  For six years they lived in the Los Angeles area, during which time Susan was employed at the Bank of Beverly Hills.  In 1988, Susan and Mike moved to California’s Central Valley.

For the past twenty years beginning in 2003, Susan was an extremely active grassroots volunteer for the California Democratic Party.  She encouraged and recruited candidates to run for public office and worked tirelessly to register voters and to “get out the vote.”  She was twice recognized, both in 2004 and more recently in 2015, with CDP Regional Volunteer of the Year awards. She was elected to a two-year term in 2007-08 as Regional Director of Region 8 of the statewide Party.  She was the Chair of the Madera County Democratic Central Committee commencing in 2005 and served several terms as a Vice-Chair of the Rural Caucus of the statewide Party.  She held both of those positions until her death on November 16.  She also was a co-founder of the California Latina Democrats in Fresno.  Susan was beloved by so many, and as one of her countless number of friends stated, “the love and admiration of thousands goes with her on her journey.”

Susan was preceded in death by her parents, John and Jo Ann Smith.  She is survived by her husband Michael Rowe, and her brother, Carlton B. Smith of Indianapolis.  Her family wishes to express their gratitude to the surgical team and staff at UC San Francisco Medical Center, to the entire staff at C-Care in Fresno where she received her post-operative treatments, as well as St. Agnes Hospital in Fresno.  A very special level of thanks is due to both the San Joaquin Rehabilitation Hospital and Hinds Hospice, each of which is located in Fresno and provided caring assistance that far exceeded all expectations.

Susan will be laid to rest on November 29, 2023, at Maplewood Cemetery in Anderson, Indiana, following services to be conducted at Brown-Butz-Diedring Funeral Home.  Visitation will be from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.  Funeral service will take place at 1:00 p.m. after the visitation.  A celebration of life memorial also will be held in California, sometime early in 2024, shortly following the conclusion of the holiday season.

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