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1933
2019
PORTLAND - Nancy Jane Bowser, 86, of Scarborough, passed away peacefully, with her loving family by her side on May 10, 2019, at Maine Medical Center in Portland. She was a private person who was beloved and deeply appreciated by her family for her strength, compassion, determination, strong sense of values, and, above all, steadfast dedication and profound love for her husband and family. She married Neil R. Bowser in 1957, and together they raised five children and two grandchildren and built a successful construction business, N.R. Bowser & Son, Inc. Neil died on Feb. 25, 2019, and they will be buried together.
Born in Portland on April 29, 1933, Nancy grew up during the Great Depression, the youngest daughter of a single mother who had been an orphan. Her mother worked hard to feed her children and keep them together. This gave Nancy resilience, fortitude, commitment to hard work, loyalty to family, and deep empathy for the people she loved and people she barely knew, especially children who needed homes.
She was hilarious, especially when her sister Jackie visited. She loved big band and swing music, dancing with Neil throughout their lives together, winning Yahtzee and Scrabble games, feeding birds and chipmunks in her yard, and daily conversations and meals with her family at the kitchen table. She is remembered for always being there, and for all the times she listened.
She cultivated beauty in her home and gardens. She handled the finances and management of the family business, producing order from chaos, surrounded by work crews, accounting books, receipts, children with busy lives, stacks of washing and ironing, food to be put on the table, and, over time, generations of grandchildren, and all of their friends and pets. Her home was the family hub on a daily basis, and the place for family gatherings on holidays and birthdays for over 60 years. She was a woman of competence, intelligence, beauty, and graciousness.
Nancy was predeceased by her husband, Neil; her parents, Mary (Hawes) Carroll and John R. Carroll; her sister, Mary Jacqueline (Carroll) Bailey, her brothers, John Raymond Carroll Jr., and Richard H. Carroll; and her daughter, Linda J. Bowser.
She is survived by her daughters and sons-in-law, Diane L. and Gregory R. Dow of Rye, N.H., Donna M. Lotti of Saco, and Brenda J. Bowser and John Q. Patton of La Habra Heights, Calif., her son, Joseph R. Bowser of Scarborough; nine grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren, and three great-great-grandchildren.
The wake is scheduled for Sunday, May 19, from 3-5 p.m. at Hobbs Funeral Home, 230 Cottage Rd., South Portland. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m., Monday, May 20, at the First Congregational Church, 301 Cottage Road, South Portland. Burial services will be held at Scarborough Memorial Cemetery immediately following the church service. After the graveside service, please join in a celebration of Nancy's life at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Portland, 363 Maine Mall Rd, South Portland.
Online condolences may be expressed at www.hobbsfuneralhome.com.
In lieu of flowers,
donations may be made in Nancy's name to the
Palliative Care Program
Attn: Development
Maine Medical Center
22 Bramhall St.
Portland, Maine 04102
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
5 Entries
My sweet dear friend. You are missed and loved by many... I treasure the time you gave me. The wonderful talks and laughing we shared. Prayers for the Bowsers of Scarborough.
Garbrielle Gorham
Friend
May 19, 2019
Garbrielle Gorham
Friend
May 19, 2019
Nancy Boswer was my grandmother, a wife ,a hard worker ,a house wife ,a mother and a woman to look up to.
She was also very funny when she wanted tobe , always making me laugh.
My whole life I aspired to be like her.
She was smart,funny,kind ,selfless and a great person.
When I was young I would sleep over and we would stay up late watching Jonny Carson and playing Yatzee.
When I was pregnant with my first son Corry ,I lived with my grandparents ,I got very sick and she would put a cold gace cloth on my forhead.
I am going to miss my gram so much.
I love you Gram and Im glad your not in pain anymore and your with the love of your life Neil ,my grampa. RIP.
Nikki Lotti
Family
May 18, 2019
Diane and Greg, Donna, Brenda and John, and Joe & all Family, as I said when Dad died, I got to know them so well, not just doing legal work but as friends. Tho we are not natives of Scarborough I think of them as part of Scarborough as I know the Town. Knowing it's not enough to just have memories of Mom and Dad, still hang on to all the thoughts and examples they leave us! Dick Cervizzi
May 17, 2019
I didnt know Nancy well, but the thing I remember about her was her BEAUTIFULL smile and her peacefull glow.
Neil is my beloved cousin and may God shed his light on all who loved them andBless you all.
Carolyn Faucon
Family
May 16, 2019
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May
19
3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Hobbs Funeral Home - South Portland230 Cottage Road, South Portland, ME 04106
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Hobbs Funeral Home - South Portland230 Cottage Road, South Portland, ME 04106
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