Tanya Lynn Rowe and Benton Bisbee Rowe

November 20, 2017

Tanya Rowe and her loving son Benton Rowe passed away in Bellingham, WA on Monday, November 20, 2017. Tanya was born March 29, 1974 in Toledo, OH. Benton was born February 20, 2012 in Bellingham, WA. Tanya attended Gesu Grade School and graduated from Central Catholic High School in Toledo, OH, in 1992. She earned a B.S. at Eastern Michigan University and an M.A. at Western Washington University. She worked as a reporter for the Bellingham Herald, was a lecturer in the Journalism Department at WWU, and later worked for Bellingham Public Schools in Administration. Her most precious gift was her son Benton and she adored her brother Brad. Tanya loved the outdoors, running, mountain biking, hiking, yoga and writing. She enjoyed working with the teachers, staff and students of Bellingham Public Schools. Benton was full of life and was a very smart boy with a wonderful vocabulary. He loved meeting people and making new friends everywhere he went. Much like his mom he enjoyed the outdoors, riding his bike, playing music and everything Star Wars. He cherished his time with grandparents Larry and Rita, uncle Brad, aunt Holly, their son Alden, and his neighborhood and Wade King school friends. Tanya and Benton are survived by Tanya’s parents, Larry and Rita Kerstiens, brother Brad (wife Holly) Kerstiens and their son Alden, uncle Mike (wife Nancy) Kerstiens and their son Mike, uncle Ron (wife Claudia) Rogers, great-aunt Lottie Czekaj, and many loving relatives and friends. You are invited to offer your condolences to the family at an informal, open house celebration of life to be held at Westford's Broadway Hall, 1300 Broadway on Wednesday, November 29th from 3-8 PM. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Bellingham on Thursday, November 30th at 11 AM. Reception following at the church. Memorials may be made to Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation at ww5.komen.org, Bellingham Public Schools Foundation, PO Box 1132, Bellingham, WA 98227-1132 or online at http://www.bellinghamschoolsfoundation.org/together-we-can-make-a-difference or Central Catholic High School 2550 Cherry St, Toledo, OH 43608 or online at https://www.centralcatholic.org/gifts-and-giving/ways-give/. You may share memories with the family at www.westfordfuneralhome.com.