On Monday, October 21, 2019 family and friends will gather to celebrate the life of our beloved Ione R. Howell (Nanny) who passed away peacefully in her home in Columbia, Maryland on October 12, 2019 surrounded by her loving family just weeks after celebrating her 90th birthday. She leaves behind a lifetime of memories and a legacy that will live on through her adoring husband, children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
Born on September 10, 1929 on a farm in Three Churches, West Virginia, she was the only child of Gilbert and Kathryn Rannells. She always appreciated her small-town upbringing and the beautiful landscapes she was blessed to be surrounded by as a child. The rolling, wild hills of West Virginia were matched only by her own adventurous and untamed spirit. Being an only child from a small town, she dreamed of a big family, the big city, and finding her own place in the world.
She attended Shepherd University in Shepherdstown, West Virginia. It was here she met her first husband, John Novak. After graduating, they moved to Washington, D.C. and began their own family. They had five wonderful children together before their paths diverged. During the following years she was blessed with another son and completed a Master’s degree from John’s Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland.
Ione, mother of pugs, planter of gardens, and watcher of birds was an avid knick-knack enthusiast and lover of the arts. She could always be found reading a book, heading out to a play, or exploring a craft fair. She had an inquisitive nature and was a life-long learner, but her greatest passion in life was sharing that knowledge and wisdom with others.
In 1968, Ione followed her passion and began a long, successful career as a teacher for Baltimore City where she taught for over 30 years. Along with teaching English, she also ran the school yearbook, coached the cheerleading squad, and became a trusted mentor to the young women she worked with. It was during this time she developed a love for sports, resulting in her later love for all things Ravens. Her stories over coffee, even in her recent years, often fondly involved the many students she inspired during her time at Lake Clifton High School.
Her magnetic personality and authenticity as a teacher gained her a reputation among students and faculty. It was at “The Lake” she caught the attention of the mathematics teacher down the hall, David Howell. David would later become her husband, and the journey they began together in Baltimore would blossom into a lifelong adventure taking them well beyond the city limits. David’s love of her and her children cemented her love for him, and together they became the foundation for their growing family. Their home was forever the gathering place with a fire always roaring, the gardens always blooming, and hot pot of coffee always at the ready.
Her faith was a cornerstone in life, and family quickly extended to the members of Gary Memorial UMC where she enjoyed in the fellowship and love of the church. Ione always looked forward to the start of each week with the women’s Bible study group.
No one, not a single soul, would want for comfort while she had any say in the matter. You could always depend on her for a laugh, a hug, a wise word, or a wild tale. She instilled her best qualities in her children and grandchildren, so her moral insight and strength of character will live on for generations to come. Though her passing has left an indescribable void, her life has given the gift of an undying love and irreplaceable memories to all of those she leaves behind.
Ione R. Howell was the beloved wife of David L. Howell. Loving mother of John Novak and wife Marylou, Kathy Novak-Portocarrero and husband Omar, Patty Yates and husband David, Nancy Smith and husband Max, Cindy Dorn and husband Danny, and Randy Clay. Grandmother of Billy, Jimmy, Candace, Krystle, Kara, David, Chris, Jon, Jessica, Shawn, Angela, Kim, and Joe. Great-Grandmother of Liam, Julia, Preston, Brynn, Bruce, Bryce, Briley, Harper, Beckham, and Tatum.
Family will receive friends at Witzke Funeral Homes, Inc., 5555 Twin Knolls Rd., Columbia, MD 21045 on Sunday, October 20th from 3 to 5 and 7 to 9pm. Funeral services will be held at Gary Memorial United Methodist Church, 2029 Daniels Rd., Ellicott City, MD 21043 on Monday, October 21 at 11am. Interment will be at Columbia Memorial Park in Clarksville, MD.
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