Rowan Chassaniol Quave

Rowan Chassaniol Quave, age 88, of Panama City Beach, Fl, joined her beloved husband, Gerald J. Quave as she peacefully passed away surrounded by her loving family on the morning of September 2, 2024. 

Rowan was born in Greenwood, Mississippi to Emmett Joseph and Mamie Birdsong Chassaniol on April 5, 1936. She was the granddaughter of Herbert Spencer and Marie Celina Demoruelle Chassaniol and Robert Edward and Mamie Rowan Birdsong. 

Rowan is predeceased by her parents and grandparents. She is survived by her children, Julie Quave (Herb) Sanders and Gerald “Jay” Quave, Jr.; her grandchildren, Olivia Quave, Molly Quave and Douglas Sanders; great-grandchildren, James and Nathan Sanders; her siblings, Emmett Joseph Chassaniol, Jr. (Lydia) and Emily Chassaniol Handwerker (Buz); along with numerous cousins, nieces, nephews, in-laws and a wide circle of friends. She deeply loved them all, especially her cousin Michael Spencer Mallette, who assisted with her caretaking and was by her side until the end. She will also be deeply missed by her dear friend, Vesta Hollis; her bonus daughter, Lee Ann Strangi Dubaz; and her caretaker, Tracy Robinson, who has become part of our family.

Rowan graduated from Greenwood High School and attended Mississippi University for Women (the “W”), prior to moving to the Mississippi Gulf Coast, where she met the love of her life, Jerry Quave and never looked back. They were married on March 2, 1957, and after a brief time in Baltimore, Maryland and Atlanta, Georgia to complete Jerry’s army tour, they settled in Biloxi, Mississippi before moving a short jump over the bridge to Ocean Springs in 1969. Rowan loved people, and she and Jerry developed a wide circle of lifelong friends. She loved the beach, playing bridge, and spending time with family and friends. She also deeply loved her Catholic faith and was a member of Our Lady of Fatima and St. Alphonsus Catholic churches in Biloxi and Ocean Springs and was a long-time volunteer at The Lord is My Help food pantry. Rowan enjoyed the fun of carnival time and was a member of Les Masques, Bilikins, Mithras and Revelers. While a member of the Biloxi Yacht Club she embraced Jerry’s love of sailing and all things “saltwater” spending numerous hours fishing, sailing and enjoying the beautiful Mississippi Gulf Coast by his side. 

Rowan worked in various positions for the Biloxi Schools as an administrative assistant in the superintendent’s office, for the Biloxi Chamber of Commerce, and for Ocean Springs Schools as school secretary at Pecan Park Elementary. She also worked at the Broadwater Beach Hotel as a convention receptionist, where she enjoyed meeting many new people, especially the day she got to meet the actor, Paul Newman, and she confirmed that his eyes were even bluer in person. Rowan possessed a wonderful sense of style and thrived in her time working with her friend Hanneke Gast in her boutique. Everywhere she worked she met new people and formed new friendships. 

When Jerry retired in 1997, they built their dream home on Fort Bayou in Ocean Springs. In 2005 Hurricane Katrina devastated this home and Jerry and Rowan moved to Panama City Beach, FL to be closer to their treasured grandchildren.

Although it was difficult for her to move away from friends, she blossomed being Olivia and Molly’s Grammy. She became a huge part of their lives. Her favorite part of the day was picking them up from school, getting them snacks and helping with them with their homework. They created so many memories and her granddaughters love her fiercely and have been amazing in the caretaking process of their beloved Grammy.

 In Panama City Beach, Rowan immediately began to widen her circle of friends. She was an active member of the Panama City Beach Women’s Civic Club and the Bay County Republican Women, as well as a member of St. Bernadette Catholic Church. She was very committed to her civic duty, her conservative values, and her faith. Although she had moved away from Mississippi, her roots were strong and she kept in constant contact with her dear friends, always remembering everyone’s birthday and special events. She enjoyed trips back to the Coast to visit with family and friends and to do a little gambling (or sometimes a lot!). 

 As her health began failing, her spirit and mind remained strong. She was reading and doing her puzzles up until a few days before her passing. She worried constantly about being a burden on her family, but she never was a burden – she was our precious mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, cousin and friend and she will be missed by many.

The family would like to thank caregivers, Mike Mallette, Tracy Robinson and Dee, along with Branda, Beth, Carla, Essence and others from Vitas Healthcare for the loving care and comfort they provided.

A Funeral Mass will be held Friday, September 6, 2024 at 11:00 AM at St. Bernadette Catholic Church with Reverend Paul Smith, C.R., and Very Reverend Ted Sosnowski, V.F. officiating. The family will receive friends at 10:00 A.M. until time of the Mass. 

On Saturday, September 7, 2024 there will be a visitation from 10:00 AM until 11:00 AM at Bradford-O’Keefe Funeral Home, 675 Howard Ave, Biloxi, MS, followed by a chapel service and entombment at Quave Cemetery, 3315 W Racetrack Rd, D’Iberville, MS.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. Bernadette Catholic Church, 1214 Moylan Rd., Panama City Beach, FL. 32407 or St Jude’s Children’s Hospital. 

Bradford-O’Keefe Funeral Home is honored to serve the family of Rowan Chassaniol Quave.