Raritan Township, NJ–Joseph W. Rowland, 72, entered into eternal life on Saturday, June 27, 2009 at the Hunterdon Care Center in Raritan Township. Born in Red Bank to his late parents John and Mary (Mulhern) Rowland, he resided in Mountainside, Matawan and Sewell before settling to Raritan Township eight years ago.

Joseph was a graduate of The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia and earned his Master's Degree in Business from Rutgers University in Newark. Joseph held management positions with Western Electric and ATT, retiring after many years of dedicated employment. He was a faithful communicant of St. Magdalen de Pazzi Roman Catholic Church in Flemington and a past president of the Mantua Lions Club. Some of his favorite pastimes included model railroading, attending train shows and playing the piano.



Joseph leaves behind his beloved wife of 48 years, Patricia Powers Rowland, with whom he joined hands in marriage on June 24, 1961; two loving sons and daughters-in-law: Christopher and Mamie (Bowers) Rowland of Flemington and James and Michelle of Yardley, PA; and a dear sister Elizabeth Franck of Three Bridges. He will be dearly missed by his two adored grandchildren: Jack and Sophie Rowland.

Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, July 1, 2009 beginning 9:45 a.m. from Countryside Funeral Home, 724 Route 202 North, Three Bridges, NJ 08887 followed by a 10:30 a.m. funeral liturgy at St. Magdalen de Pazzi Roman Catholic Church in Flemington. Joseph will be laid to rest at St. Magdalen's Cemetery in Flemington. Relatives and friends are invited to attend visitation at the funeral home on Tuesday, June 30, 2009 from 7-9 p.m. and on Wednesday, July 1, 2009 from 9:00 a.m. until service time. Memorial contributions may be made in Joseph's name to: American Diabetes Association, P.O. Box 13067, Alexandria, VA 22312 or Hunterdon Medical Center, 2100 Wescott Drive, Flemington, NJ 08822.