Rowena Stillman was born Rowena Helen McCombe (sometimes spelled McCoomb or McComb) at Sloane Maternity Hospital in Manhattan, New York on April 15, 1901, the daughter of John A. and Dora (Lindner) McCombe. Her parents were both immigrants, her father from Ireland in 1883, and her mother from Germany in 1884. Rowena was the second of their four children. Older sister Anna was born in February of 1898 in Massachusetts. Younger siblings Frederick, born in November 1903, and Rowan born in 1906, were both born in New Jersey. John McCombe supported the family by working as a general laborer.
In 1910 the family was living on Love Lane in Closter, New Jersey. By 1915 they had moved to Cedar Lane, where they were at least through 1920. At the age of 18 Rowena was working as an inspector in a factory.
In June of 1925 Rowena had been traveling in Europe. On June 25 she boarded the S.S. George Washington in Cherbourg, France to return to the United States. She landed in New York City on July 3, 1925. Whether they met on the voyage, or already knew each other, her future husband, Alfred Stellman (also spelled Stillman) was also a passenger. He lived at 61 State Street in Hackensack, New Jersey, like Rowena's home of Closter, also in Bergen County New Jersey.
Rowena and Alfred were married September 20, 1937 in Manhattan, New York. Alfred, born in Terrytown, New York on October 30, 1896 or 1900 (even the military burial records include BOTH dates), was the son of Frederick and Katherine Stellman. Frederick was a native New Yorker, and Katherine was a German immigrant. In 1930 the widowed Katherine and sons Alfred and Lester were living at 360 47th Street in Brooklyn. Alfred worked as a radio man for RCA.
In 1940 Alfred and Rowena were living with his mother Katherine and ten lodgers at the 47th Street address in Brooklyn. Alfred gave his occupation as "musician", and Rowena worked as a "domestic" (or servant) for a private family. Alfred died December 2, 1947. Since he had served in the Signal Corps during World War I, he was buried in the Veterans Administration Cemetery in Bay Pines, Florida.
In 1950 Rowena was living alone with her mother in law in Brooklyn. Even at the age of 74 Katherine Stillman was working as a "companion nurse", and Rowena was doing housework in other homes.
Rowena was issued a Social Security number in New York state in 1967. Her last residence was in Flushing, Queens, New York. Rowena Helen Stillman died October 31, 1984 at NYC Health and Hospitals/Queens. She was buried December 18, 1984 on Hart Island.
Sources: Ancestry.com; US, Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014; 1910, 1920, 1930, 1940, and 1950 US Federal Censuses; 1915 NY, US, State Census; NY, US, Extracted Marriage Index, 1866-1937; NY, US, Arriving Passenger and Crew Lists, 1820-1957; NY, NY, US, Index to Birth Certificates, 1866-1909; US, WWII Draft Registration Cards, 1942; US, Headstone Applications for Military Veterans, 1925-1970; US, VA Master Index, 1917-1940.
In 1910 the family was living on Love Lane in Closter, New Jersey. By 1915 they had moved to Cedar Lane, where they were at least through 1920. At the age of 18 Rowena was working as an inspector in a factory.
In June of 1925 Rowena had been traveling in Europe. On June 25 she boarded the S.S. George Washington in Cherbourg, France to return to the United States. She landed in New York City on July 3, 1925. Whether they met on the voyage, or already knew each other, her future husband, Alfred Stellman (also spelled Stillman) was also a passenger. He lived at 61 State Street in Hackensack, New Jersey, like Rowena's home of Closter, also in Bergen County New Jersey.
Rowena and Alfred were married September 20, 1937 in Manhattan, New York. Alfred, born in Terrytown, New York on October 30, 1896 or 1900 (even the military burial records include BOTH dates), was the son of Frederick and Katherine Stellman. Frederick was a native New Yorker, and Katherine was a German immigrant. In 1930 the widowed Katherine and sons Alfred and Lester were living at 360 47th Street in Brooklyn. Alfred worked as a radio man for RCA.
In 1940 Alfred and Rowena were living with his mother Katherine and ten lodgers at the 47th Street address in Brooklyn. Alfred gave his occupation as "musician", and Rowena worked as a "domestic" (or servant) for a private family. Alfred died December 2, 1947. Since he had served in the Signal Corps during World War I, he was buried in the Veterans Administration Cemetery in Bay Pines, Florida.
In 1950 Rowena was living alone with her mother in law in Brooklyn. Even at the age of 74 Katherine Stillman was working as a "companion nurse", and Rowena was doing housework in other homes.
Rowena was issued a Social Security number in New York state in 1967. Her last residence was in Flushing, Queens, New York. Rowena Helen Stillman died October 31, 1984 at NYC Health and Hospitals/Queens. She was buried December 18, 1984 on Hart Island.
Sources: Ancestry.com; US, Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014; 1910, 1920, 1930, 1940, and 1950 US Federal Censuses; 1915 NY, US, State Census; NY, US, Extracted Marriage Index, 1866-1937; NY, US, Arriving Passenger and Crew Lists, 1820-1957; NY, NY, US, Index to Birth Certificates, 1866-1909; US, WWII Draft Registration Cards, 1942; US, Headstone Applications for Military Veterans, 1925-1970; US, VA Master Index, 1917-1940.