Marcia Rhea Kowan was born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1941, right in the throes of WWII, to first-generation Hungarian-American parents Joseph and Sylvia Posner. Marcia went to college to be a school teacher, first at City University of New York (CUNY) and later at Cortland College. She taught in Yonkers for a few years before she married Illes Kowan. Marcia and Illes moved to White Plains, where Marcia taught reading at the Cardinal McCloskey school and before joining the White Plains public school system, where she taught remedial reading for the next 25+ years. At 4'11", she was shorter than most of her seventh graders, but she was full of energy and humor, and was definitely in charge. She gave kids all of her attention and made people feel like they were the only one in the room... whether it was her students or her grand kids or anyone with whom she was talking. She wanted to know everything about people and was not concerned with popularity or status. She was often the one who checked in on, talked to and cared for her friends in need. As one of the oldest cousins of her generation Marcia helped to keep the extended family together. Marcia had 2 sons, Joseph and Joshua , who drove her crazy, but in a good way, facing all the normal challenges of any family. Marcia and Illes were born 10 years and 1 day apart, and they died 10 years (and a few months) apart . Marcia was a force of nature. She ran 4 miles a day, always wore bright colors and heels (she even had high heeled sneakers), laughed so hard that she couldn't stop, trusted people to a fault, and took care of everyone until she couldn't. Marcia passed away on April 18, 2022 due to complications from Alzheimer's disease. She is survived by sons Joseph and Joshua and daughters-in-law, Julie Kowan and Janna Kowan, by brother and sister-in-law Fred and Lydia Posner, by numerous grand kids, nieces and nephews (Hazel, Tobias, Max, Brandon, Claire, Miles, Shepherd, Lisa, Jeff, Lou and Ollie) by her extended biological family, by her Hearthstone and Windrose families and by her NY State Teachers family. A graveside service will be held at Sharon Gardens Cemetery, 273 Lakeview Ave., Valhalla, NY on Tuesday April 26, 2022 at 11:00AM. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend. Donations can be made in Marcia's name to: The Alzheimer's Association – https://www.alz.org/ Wounded Warriors Project – https://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/