Josephine Elise Rowe from Mabe died on July 15, aged 94, surrounded by her family at home More than 80 people attended her funeral on July 31 at St Laudus Church in Mabe with 30 more coming to her wake afterwards. Josephine helped found W C Rowes alongside her brother William Rowe in 1948. The company, now known as just Rowes after it was taken over, donated hundreds of pasties to be eaten by people at her wake.
Josephine Rowe with her two children Dave and Janet (Image: Rowe Family) Originally WC Rowe operated from what is now Dig ‘n’ Delve on Swanpool Street where Josephine worked for 12 years before moving to Mabe to open up the village shop with her husband Bill Matthews The youngest of five children to Ellen and Joseph Rowe, she was born at home at Park View, Helston on January 15, 1930. Josephine making a pasty with Dean (Image: Rowe Family) When she left school she got a job in local government and was all set to make a career out of it. However, in her eulogy, her son Dave Matthews said in those days you did what your father told you.
He said when her older brother William, or Bill as they all knew him, left the air force and became a baker she left her job and, as per father’s instructions, moved from Helston to Falmouth as her brother’s housekeeper and assistant in the newly formed bakery. During this time she met and courted Bill Matthews from Porthleven and they married in October 1950. Josephine Rowe (Image: Rowe Family) They both lived above the bakehous.