Poplar Grove - Arlene Bowes passed away peacefully, at home surrounded by her family, on March 15, 2012. She was born on November 26, 1925, in Amboy. Daughter of Joseph and Marie (Fitzpatrick) McCaffrey. She graduated from Amboy High School in 1943. Arlene attended St. Anthony's School of Nursing in Rockford and graduated with the class of 1946. She was a member of the U.S. Cadet Nurse Corps during WWII. Arlene retired in 1992 after working as a registered nurse for 40 years. She married Robert (Bud) Bowes on November15, 1947 in Harmon, IL.Arlene was an avid book reader and daily journalist documenting family history, memories, and life experiences. She was a gifted storyteller entertaining her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.Survivors include brother Leo McCaffrey of Amboy and sister Mary Jean Heck of Dixon; daughters Pat (Dan) Riccio of Oswego, Barb (Dale) Kaeding of Davis and Jane Anderson of Poplar Grove; sons Steve Bowes of Rockford and John (Mary JoAnn) Bowes of Cherry Valley; grandchildren, Lon Weberg, Lori Johnson, Amy (Giovanni) Riccio-Zoppe, Angie Riccio, Jason (Katie) Tracey, Justin (Lauren) Tracey, Adam (Mary Beth) Anderson, Julie Anderson, Eric Anderson, and Andrea and Ryan Bowes; great-grandchildren, Tristin, Gracie, Alycia, Monika, Tajinae, Nevaeh, Harper, Emersynn, Carson, Allison, Chiara, and Julien; and numerous nieces and nephews. Preceded by husband Bud, daughter Susan Bowes-Johns and brother Joseph McCaffrey. Arlene's family would like to thank Dr. K. Hughes, Dr. I. Shaukat, Dr. I. Ahmad and OSF Hospice nurses, Julie, Michelle, Susan, and Christina for their loving compassion and for shepherding our family as we loved our mother, grandmother, great grandmother, sister and aunt into the Heavenly Kingdom.

Memorials can be given in care of Arlene's family.