April (Wade) Bowen

April LaToya (Wade) Bowen was born April 5, 1977 to Willie Mae (Johnson) Wade and Leon Carl Wade. She departed this life on May 15, 2021 with her husband at her side. 

As a young girl,  April can be remembered by her sister and mother as a person that loved to help. She taught her sister to play Pick-up Sticks as well as teaching her to drive at the early age of 13.  She was a bright eyed child with a smile that could light up a room.  She was smart and talented. 

As a teen April took on an interest in computer science and interned at Lincoln Life as a student before graduating from Bishop Luers. Later she began nursing school while working as a certified nursing assistant. This was another area where April shined. She loved her patients and her patients loved her back, so much so that she would personalize special gifts and special care for them individually as they in turn would specifically request to be under April’s care when she was on duty. With a big heart April nurturer and cared for many. She welcomed many people into her home without judgement and without question. 

Her children were always her priority in life and despite having only 5 children biologically, April mothered a multitude of children that came into her life.  She never missed an opportunity to make her kids feel special celebrating EVERY birthday with their favorite meal before cake and ice cream. They included younger cousins, the children of her friends, the friends of her children, and the many  godchildren that were entrusted to her care. 

God sent those who needed a mother figure, a protector, a confidant, an advocate to April and she never wavered in those roles. 

Second only to her family April found her refuge in the hobbies such as music and dancing, traveling, reading, watching Chicago Bears’ games and outdoor activities that brought her closer to nature like gardening, bird watching, fishing, and even a walk in the park. 

She held a special place in her heart for any and everything Winnie the Pooh, growing an enormous collection of memorabilia over the years as her husband would search to find the rarest keepsakes for each holiday and celebration. 

April seized every day living boldly and out loud. She was a strong woman who knew how to get her point across. She was real, honest and many times very direct. And whether you agreed with her all the time or not you had to respect her. She was always a leader and could argue her point sometimes so much so that she could make  people who were determined to see things one way look at things from a completely different perspective. She challenged people to think outside the box and April will always be remembered as a woman who lived life to the fullest, never holding back from an adventure or spontaneous activity inspiring those who knew her to look beyond your circumstance and find your own happiness. 

Preceding her in death were a brother, Leon Maurice Wade; father, Leon Wade, and mother-in-law, Kathy Bowen. 

She leaves behind an ever-devoted and loving husband, Michael Maurice Bowen; sons, Rayshawn Carl Shyheim Wade Brown, Keion Marquise Brown, Terrell Wade Brown; daughters, Monica LaShay Brown, Alexiea Farrah-Mae Brown; mother, Willie Mae Wade; sister, Autumn Farrah Craig; brothers-in-law, Erik (Beth) Bowen and Terrence (Jessica) Bowen, six grandchildren, three nieces, beloved godchildren, special children who she loved as her own, and a host of aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends. 

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