 |  |
Marian Isabel Bower, our beloved “Gram”, was called to heaven on October 21, 2023. Isabel was born on August 15, 1923 in Wapwallopen, PA. She was the eldest of five daughters, born to the late L. Bruce and Verna Thomas.
Isabel graduated from Berwick High School in 1940. She went on to marry her high school sweetheart, Marvin T. Bower, in 1943. Isabel worked for WISE Potato Chip Factory for 32 years. When asked if she ever snuck a chip, she would reply, “I sure did, a lot of them,” followed by her lovable laugh. Eventually retiring from Sears at the age of 80, Isabel continued as an active member of the Summerhill Ladies Auxiliary and Bethany United Methodist Church. She also spent hundreds of hours volunteering on election days and at the Berwick Hospital Gift Shop. At the young age of 90, she moved from Berwick, PA to Skaneateles, NY to live with her daughter, Judy, and son-in-law, Ed. It was here that she spent the last ten years of her life, always surrounded by love and family.
Isabel had her faith, family, and an abundance of feistiness.
All qualities that allowed her to live a wonderfully long life. She spent summers at the family cottage in White Lake, Ontario and her winters soaking in the Florida sun. She loved reading, fishing, bowling, dancing and sports. She was always routing for her favorite sports teams, the Berwick Bulldogs, Penn State football and of course, Syracuse basketball. Her greatest joy of all, was her family. A true matriarch, who will be so greatly missed.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Marvin Bower, who passed away in 1980; four sisters, Betty Birge, Shirley Veale, Ethel McQuown, Janice Kishbaugh; two nephews, Larry Schnorr and David Bower. She sadly had to say goodbye to so many close friends over the years, as well.
She is survived by her daughter, Judy (Ed) Fenstermacher of Skaneateles, NY; two grandchildren, Scott (Janine) Fenstermacher of Ponte Vedra Beach, FL and Suzan (Jared) Ryan of Owasco, NY; three great grand-children, Grayden and Nora Fenstermacher and Benjamin Ryan.
In addition to her immediate family, she is also survived by several nieces and nephews; Susan Varner and her partner William Hoffner, of Bloomsburg, PA; Sherry Kishbaugh of Bloomsburg, PA; Deborah Esper and her husband Dr. Alan Esper of Erie, PA; Cathy Siak of Hunlock Creek, PA; Dennis Veale and his wife Donna of Southampton, PA; and George McQuown of Berwick, PA.
A special thank you from the family to Dr. James Connelly, Cardiologist and Colleen Saxton, NP, for their excellent care. Isabel thought very highly of you both. Also, to Donna Brazee, thank you for loving our Gram and helping with her care over the past year.
To honor Isabel’s wishes, there will be a family ceremony held at White Lake, Ontario next summer. A private burial will be held at a later date at Pine Grove Cemetery, Berwick PA. Memorials may be made in her name to: Bethany Church of Berwick, 116 Summerhill Avenue, Berwick, PA 18603 or Four Town First Aid Squad, PO Box 28, Moravia, NY 13118.
To send condolences, visit: robertdgrayfuneralhome.com.
Isabel graduated from Berwick High School in 1940. She went on to marry her high school sweetheart, Marvin T. Bower, in 1943. Isabel worked for WISE Potato Chip Factory for 32 years. When asked if she ever snuck a chip, she would reply, “I sure did, a lot of them,” followed by her lovable laugh. Eventually retiring from Sears at the age of 80, Isabel continued as an active member of the Summerhill Ladies Auxiliary and Bethany United Methodist Church. She also spent hundreds of hours volunteering on election days and at the Berwick Hospital Gift Shop. At the young age of 90, she moved from Berwick, PA to Skaneateles, NY to live with her daughter, Judy, and son-in-law, Ed. It was here that she spent the last ten years of her life, always surrounded by love and family.
Isabel had her faith, family, and an abundance of feistiness.
All qualities that allowed her to live a wonderfully long life. She spent summers at the family cottage in White Lake, Ontario and her winters soaking in the Florida sun. She loved reading, fishing, bowling, dancing and sports. She was always routing for her favorite sports teams, the Berwick Bulldogs, Penn State football and of course, Syracuse basketball. Her greatest joy of all, was her family. A true matriarch, who will be so greatly missed.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Marvin Bower, who passed away in 1980; four sisters, Betty Birge, Shirley Veale, Ethel McQuown, Janice Kishbaugh; two nephews, Larry Schnorr and David Bower. She sadly had to say goodbye to so many close friends over the years, as well.
She is survived by her daughter, Judy (Ed) Fenstermacher of Skaneateles, NY; two grandchildren, Scott (Janine) Fenstermacher of Ponte Vedra Beach, FL and Suzan (Jared) Ryan of Owasco, NY; three great grand-children, Grayden and Nora Fenstermacher and Benjamin Ryan.
In addition to her immediate family, she is also survived by several nieces and nephews; Susan Varner and her partner William Hoffner, of Bloomsburg, PA; Sherry Kishbaugh of Bloomsburg, PA; Deborah Esper and her husband Dr. Alan Esper of Erie, PA; Cathy Siak of Hunlock Creek, PA; Dennis Veale and his wife Donna of Southampton, PA; and George McQuown of Berwick, PA.
A special thank you from the family to Dr. James Connelly, Cardiologist and Colleen Saxton, NP, for their excellent care. Isabel thought very highly of you both. Also, to Donna Brazee, thank you for loving our Gram and helping with her care over the past year.
To honor Isabel’s wishes, there will be a family ceremony held at White Lake, Ontario next summer. A private burial will be held at a later date at Pine Grove Cemetery, Berwick PA. Memorials may be made in her name to: Bethany Church of Berwick, 116 Summerhill Avenue, Berwick, PA 18603 or Four Town First Aid Squad, PO Box 28, Moravia, NY 13118.
To send condolences, visit: robertdgrayfuneralhome.com.
