Constance M. Trowbridge

Constance Connie (Mrs. James) Trowbridge, 83, of Marshalltown, died early Friday morning, May 9th, at the Villa del Sol while surrounded by her loving family. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, May 13th, at St. Henrys Catholic Church with Fr. Don Czapla officiating. She will be laid to rest in the Rose Hill Memorial Gardens. Friends may call from 5-7:00 p.m. Monday at the Mitchell Family Funeral Home with a 7:00 p.m. vigil service. Memorials may be directed to the family. For condolences, please visit www.mitchellfh.com. The Mitchell Family Funeral Home is caring for Connie and her family. Ph 641-844-1234. Born Constance Margaret Giarratano on May 29th, 1924, in Marshalltown, Iowa, she was the daughter of Sam and Vincene Giarratano. Her given Italian name was Cosima, but became Americanized to Constance. She attended Abbott Elementary in Marshalltown and graduated from the Marshalltown High Schools Class of 1942. While growing up, she worked at her parents grocery store, Giarratanos Grocery, at 611 East Boone Street. She had hoped to go to college when her brothers served in the war, but her parents needed her assistance at the store. On October 31st, 1948, at St. Marys Catholic Church in Marshalltown, she was united in marriage to James Trowbridge. They lived with her parents for the first two years and Connie continued to help out with the store. Then they moved to a farm south of Haverhill. Connie was a city girl and at first, the transition to country living was hard, but she grew to love the life of a farm wife. They lived on the farm for 34 years before moving to West Des Moines for 6 1/2 years. The couple retired and returned to Marshalltown in 2003. Mrs. Trowbridge was employed at Fareway Grocery, and the Ramada Inn later the Regency. She was a member of St. Henrys Catholic Church, St. Cecelias Study Group, and enjoyed the Food Channel (especially Paula Dean), bowling, square dancing, basketball, cooking and family picnics on the farm, going to her grandchildrens sports games and events and spending time with her family. Connie enjoyed carrying on the family tradition of baking Italian breads for holidays and Italian Feast Days. One of her favorite celebrations was St. Josephs Day- an Italian family tradition. She also enjoyed working the election polls and talking politics with her brother. Left to treasure her memory are James, her loving husband of 59 years, three children: Vincene Ridout, Jim (LeAnn) Trowbridge and John (Michele) Trowbridge all of Marshalltown, her grandchildren: Jeff (Susie) Ridout, Johnny Ridout, Laura Ridout, Jim (Maria) Trowbridge, Amy (Dan) Stephens, Joey Trowbridge, Lindsay (Jeff) Clement, Bart, Morgan and Trent Trowbridge, her precious great-grandchildren: Brian, Sarah, and Samantha Trowbridge, Mary Luna, Derek and Lexi Stephens, Holly Hughes and Dennis Jeffrey (D.J.) Ridout as well as numerous nieces, nephews and a host of friends. In death she has rejoined her parents, siblings (of which she was the last of eight) - Joe, Nino, Tony, Tom, Mike, Mary and Sarah and her beloved son-in-law Denny Ridout.