Maryann Gowen, 63, of Forked River, died on Thursday, May 23.

Maryann was born in Hoboken NJ to the late Rose and Leonard A. DeFelice. She was raised in Lincroft, where she lived for 45 years and also raised her family. Maryann attended St Leo the Great School and graduated from Red Bank Catholic High School and Monmouth University. After college, she worked at GE in Englewood Cliffs, NJ, where she met her husband.  She then received her insurance license and eventually took over the family business, LAD Insurance Agency, from her father. At end of her career she was a training specialist for Insurance Offices of America (IOA), taking great joy in sharing her knowledge.

Maryann was a volunteer at St. Leo the Great and was involved with PTA and Pre-Cana and selflessly gave of her time to others.  She enjoyed cooking, especially Italian foods and hosting Thanksgiving for many years.  Her solace was relaxing at the beach, and she found great joy exploring NYC with family and friends, watching her sons' many athletic events, and eating ice cream. Most of all, Maryann loved spending time with her family and friends and experiencing new adventures.

Surviving is her beloved husband, best friend, and soul mate William "Billy" Gowen, her two sons (her "pride & joy") Brian Gowen and his wife Catherine of NY NY, and Drew Gowen and his wife Paige of Freehold NJ, her sister Linda DelCore and her husband Richard of Bluffton SC , and many loving nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.