Grace Louise Brewer Nowak

GRACE LOUISE BREWER NOWAK, age 98, of Little Rock, died May 26, 2019. Grace was born August 21, 1920 in Leachville, Ark., and grew up and graduated from High School in Newellton, La. Upon graduating from Shreveport Charity Hospital School of Nursing, she accepted a commission with the U.S. Army Nurse Corps and was assigned to the 10th Station Hospital in Delhi, India. Her military service afforded Grace her first opportunity to travel around the world. After the end of World War ll, she returned to the states. After discharge, she worked at St. Francis Hospital in Monroe, La., and then the V.A. Hospital in McKinney, Texas, where she met the love of her life, Leonard Nowak. Following their marriage, they made several career enhancing moves to Richmond, Va, Memphis, Tenn., Libertyville, Ill., and finally to Little Rock, Ark. where Len was Chief of Medical Administration at both VA Hospitals. The Catholic church was always the core of their network. Grace was active in Holy Soul Catholic Church activities serving on the Altar Society and enjoying the Seniors group. She shared her nursing talents by volunteering at AR Children's Hospital and AR Department of Health with the Newborn Hearing Screening program. Grace was a champion bridge player and excellent seamstress who also enjoyed reading and traveling. Len and Grace loved exploring in Hawaii, Mexico, Canada and many countries in Europe. She kissed the Blarney Stone on her 70th birthday and brought holy water home from Lourdes. She and Len shared a fierce love of children having fostered children before having their own. They loved attending school programs, athletic, theater and dance performances. Ever the consummate hostess and gourmet cook, Grace always had an open door and heart. After the death of Grace's contemporaries, she became the matriarch for the children of all her friends and relatives, hosting many laughter-filled dinners and cocktail parties for them. By no coincidence, the name "Grace" embodied the kindness and compassion she demonstrated for her loved ones throughout her life. Grace is preceded in death by her husband of 55 years, Leonard William Nowak; a daughter, Cheryl Jeanette Nowak; granddaughter Sheryl Ann Nowak, and all her eight siblings. She is survived and dearly missed by her three children: William/Bill (Ginger) Nowak of Festus, Mo.; Margo (Robert) Bushmiaer of Hot Springs; Charles (Patrice) Nowak of Heber Springs, Ark.; 14 grandchildren, their spouses, 10 great-grandchildren and numerous nephews and nieces, friends and children of friends. The Rosary will be Sunday, June 9, 6:30 p.m. at Marylake Carmelite Monastery. Funeral Mass will be Monday, June 10, 9 a.m. at Our Lady of The Holy Souls Catholic Church, with Rev Fr. Gregory Ross, OCD and Rev Fr. Ralph Reyes co-officiating with interment in the Arkansas Veterans Cemetery in North Little Rock. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in her honor to Our Lady of the Holy Souls Catholic Church, 1003 N. Tyler St, Little Rock, Ark. 72205 or Marylake Carmelite Monastery, 5151 Marylake Dr., Little Rock, Ark. 72206. Funeral arrangements by Roller-Chenal Funeral Home. Please share your messages of love and comfort to www.rollerfuneralhomes.com/chenal.