Era Rowena Spicer Buckman Pizanowski (7/26/35-7/14/22), aka Row, aka Reenie Beenie, has found a well-deserved rest. She is preceded in death by her first husband, Charles Alanson Buckman; her second husband, Thomas Edward Pizanowski; her daughter, Deborah Brooke Buckman; and her son, Charles Brett Buckman, as well as by her parents and all of her brothers and sisters: Melvin E. Spicer, Gordon Hilliard Spicer, Nathan Ray Spicer, Myrtle Virginia Maloney, David Cordell Spicer, James Andrew Spicer, Frances Anne Guleff, and Reba Joyce Carter. She is survived by two daughters, Brenda Rose Buckman, of Sacramento, and Alyson Rowena Buckman (Albert Cinelli), of Fair Oaks, and by her son, Guy Kevin Buckman (Angie), of Auburn. She also is survived by five grandchildren, Deanna Rowena Truby Cazzone (Eliar), Charles Brett Buckman, Jr. (Amanda), Jason Francis Buckman (Mallery), Benjamin Albert Cinelli, and Samantha Angela Cinelli, and five great-grandchildren, Brooke, William, Abigail, Trefor, and Dorian Buckman, as well as numerous nieces and nephews. Row was born in Somerville, Tennessee, to Amuel "Dick" Hawkings Spicer and Allie Vera Smith Spicer (sharecroppers) and was the fifth of nine children. She grew up picking cotton in TN and was regularly pulled out of school to do so. After moving to South Dakota to live with her sister Virginia, she married Lance Buckman in 1954 in Pennington, South Dakota; Brett was born the next year in Rapid City. They later moved to New Jersey, where the rest of their children were born and raised, and they divorced in 1974. She lived in Morristown, New Jersey, from 1962-1985, and then moved to New Village. Later, she moved to Lafayette, Indiana, where her daughter Alyson lived. She moved to Sacramento in 2003 with Brenda, after her remaining son and daughter moved there. Row faced a great many challenges throughout her life, but she met them with strength and determination. Her second oldest child was born with Down's Syndrome; Row was told she'd live to be no more than 18, but she is still going strong at 67. After Row had a cerebral hemorrhage at the age of 27 (while pregnant), when the doctor told her she wouldn't walk again, she made sure to prove him wrong. She got through a divorce at the age of 39 with four kids at home and had few financial prospects, but she persevered, working in restaurants and in the home health industry. Her eldest son died of a heart attack at the age of 29, and her daughter Deborah was killed by a drunk driver at age 24. She tried to help her children achieve their dreams as best she could, and she did a wonderful job, especially considering the start she had had in life. She continued to support her children by helping to raise several grandchildren, babysitting them regularly. Her greatest joy came from her children and grandchildren, who loved her dearly. She was a great seamstress and cook, she enjoyed traveling and dining out, and she was an active learner. She also had a smile that lit up a room, often with a hint of mischief. The Neptune Society is handling her cremation; a funeral will be held August 14 in Sacramento at the Unitarian Universalist Society of Sacramento with arrangements for Zoom attendance as well.

Published by The Star-Ledger from Aug. 2 to Aug. 3, 2022.