Sharon McLaughlin Gowen

Sharon McLaughlin Gowen died, Saturday February 17, 2024, after a long illness. She was born in New Britain, CT on March 29, 1947, the eldest of three daughters of Raymond Francis McLaughlin and Gladys Bernice Majkowska, raised in Southington, CT and attended Southington schools and Central Connecticut State College. After an extensive career in mortgage banking, Sharon spent a decade and ultimately retired as Sr. Deputy Director of Fannie Mae’s CT Partnership Office, where she participated in a number of projects to assist communities, non-profit housing agencies and lenders in expanding the availability of housing to moderate income residents. After her retirement, she accepted a position with Common Ground, a NY based non-profit housing agency focusing on homelessness prevention. She managed the development of The Hollander, at that time, the first affordable housing in downtown Hartford in two decades. Sharon ended her working life with Community Solutions, the heir to Common Ground in Connecticut, where she assisted in the initial acquisition and development of two additional Hartford projects. Sharon enjoyed traveling, reading, writing, quilting and genealogy, and particularly her beloved Ireland. She attempted to be a friend to those she met and took great pleasure in connecting her friends to one another to create networks, long before networking was an event. She is survived by her son, Eugene Cooper Gowen, of Hartford, CT and Albany, NY, and his family (Cameron Rodgers, Cutter Rodgers and Cooper Gowen), her long-time partner, Oliver Field Jones of Farmington, CT and Ft. Lauderdale, FL, two sisters, Kathleen Agnes (Joseph Knott) and Maryann Frances (Robert Drury), three nephews and a niece. Calling hours will be held at Molloy Funeral Home, 906 Farmington Ave., West Hartford, from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm Friday, March 1, with a funeral Mass at 10:00 am on Saturday, March 2 at St. Patrick St. Anthony Church, 265 Church St., Hartford, followed by a reception in the church hall. Burial will be at the convenience of the family. Flowers can be sent to Molloy Funeral Home or donations can be sent to The Open Hearth at www.theopenhearth.org. Online expressions of sympathy may be made at www.molloyfuneralhome.com