Born Elizabeth Rowbottom in 1886 in DuBois, Clearfield County, Pennsylvania, she was the daughter of Abraham Joseph Rowbottom and Catherine Mullaney, both born in England. Her siblings were Margaret Mary, James Lawrence, Thomas Francis, John Patrick, Mary Ursula, Abraham Joseph, and Joseph Ursula. The first five children were born in England, the others in Pennsylvania after the family immigrated in 1884.

Mary Ursula Rowbottom entered the Sisters of Mercy Convent in 1897.

Elizabeth graduated from the school of nursing at St. Francis in 1911. Her father died in 1912 and her mother in 1917. In 1922, Elizabeth enlisted with the Sisters of Seton Hall, thus becoming Sister Paul Joseph Rowbottom.

Sister Paul Joseph Rowbottom died December 21, 1971 in Greensburg, Westmoreland County, Pa. She is buried at the Sisters' Cemetery at Seton Hall.