Liane Ruth Sowa

Liane was born in Karlsruhe, Germany on January 26, 1932. As Jewish citizens in Germany, she and her parents experienced and witnessed the mistreatment of Jews at the hands of the Nazis. After Kristallnacht, they escaped the horrors to come, leaving all of their belongings behind and boarding the USS Manhattan in March of 1939, one of the last ships to leave Germany. Liane was 7 years old. The family arrived in New York City where they remained and where Liane grew up.

She eventually met and married Edward Sowa (who preceded her in death) in 1951. As a military wife, she traveled across the country and parts of the world before settling in Loudoun County, Virginia in 1972, first living in Hamilton then Leesburg.

She was known for her fashion sense and style. Liane worked in several Leesburg boutiques throughout the years until retiring from Steinmart in 2017. She was often found socializing at the local coffee shop, The Coffee Bean (now King Street Coffee), where Edward was the coffee roaster.

She is survived by her sister, Ingrid Helfgott (Monty) of Boynton Beach, FL; her children Norah Sowa (Ray) of Loveland, CO; Steven Sowa (Joanne) of Westminster, MD; Leisha Sowa of Leesburg, VA: Heidi Walsh (Jerry) of Leesburg, VA; and two grandchildren (Kaity and Megan) and two great grandchildren (Karalena and Ethan). Liane will join her husband at Arlington National Cemetery. May she rest in peace with her loving husband.