CHERYL LOWER

CHERYL LOWER Cheryl passed away peacefully at her home in Sterling, MA on the night of February 29, 2024. In her words, I AM: a global consultant who has lived and worked on four continents. Somewhat funny. An explorer. A change partner who walks beside my clients. A growth junkie who is always learning. An endurance athlete and skier. A weather geek. A world traveler self-isolating in a small town in Massachusetts. A mother. A darn-good cook. Though her family and friends would say she is much more than this... Cheryl was someone people noticed. Standing over 6 feet tall, taking long strides when she walked, and comfortable being the leader and organizer, Cheryl usually dressed with a distinctive international flair, and truly listened when someone spoke. Her love and wisdom included a mix of insight and humor that respected and valued others; but that wisdom was combined with a guffawing sense of fun sinking on a sea-doo while dressed as aliens with a friend; originating the unexplainable "2 ducks in a bathtub" joke; running in cartoon-patterned shorts down the dirt roads of Thailand. Born in Anchorage, Alaska on August 16th, 1962, Cheryl was the oldest of four daughters of George and Nancy Lower. Her childhood and teenage years were lived in Edinboro, PA; with the family home being a social focal point for the neighborhood and a home full of play: sledding, games, and plays performed in the garage and fund-raising carnivals held in yard, directed and organized by Cheryl. Music filled the home, with Cheryl playing piano and flute, and singing harmony with her 3 sisters and Mother; and adventure permeated the years the family of 6 piled into the station wagon for cross-country trips and national park visits; Cheryl and her friend Doug winning a 36-hour dance-a-thon in high school; and days spent hiking, camping, skiing, and exploring. After graduating from The College of Wooster with a BA in Political Science (1984), Cheryl joined the Peace Corps as an English teacher in Thailand (1985-1987), which began an internationally-focused career that included Cambodian refugee program management (1989-1992); program coordination for John Snow Inc, in Asia and Africa (1994-1998); an M.A. from the School for International Training in Brattleboro, Vermont; and then organizational development and training for Allmerica Financial (1999-2002). During these years, Cheryl also went from Hash House Harrier runs across 4 continents to running marathons, devoting each mile of a marathon to a different person as gratitude for appreciating the 'now' of that mile. Though she continued to run and find adventure (and before she started her own "Fulcra Consultancy" company), Cheryl stepped away from her international career to focus on family for 15 years, raising her 2 sons with her husband Tim. Their sons Owen and Mitchell (now ages 22 and 18) grew up with the love and kindness exemplified in Cheryl, and with her same curiosity for question-asking and exploration. Always devoted to her boys, her kiddos, Cheryl's only regret in her life was that she had to leave them. The focus on her boys, on growing and moving, and on international perspectives and interests, always stayed with Cheryl -- from the pictures and hangings on her walls; to the multiple tea selections; to her close friends scattered around the world and across the US; to always finding time to travel, take long runs, and ski; to both local and distant adventures with her sons; to her amazing cooking with diverse spices and rices, including her Pad Thai which was especially loved by her nieces and nephews. And Cheryl stayed in close touch with Peace Corps friends, loving the regular reunions and the laughter and memories and continuing travel adventures that they shared. Always having a stack of new books to be read, and always looking ahead with plans for friends and family gatherings (usually with good food and better laughter); Cheryl persisted in that optimism and planning through her ovarian cancer treatments, and she is probably still striding ahead to the next adventure, with gratitude and laughter. She'll wait for you there. Cheryl is survived by her father, George, and stepmother, Linda; sisters Charla, Emily, Elizabeth; former husband Tim Coonahan; sons Owen and Mitchell Coonahan; stepdaughter Erin and son-in-law Scott; and grandchildren Jack and Ada. A memorial will be held on April 6th at the First Church (6 Meetinghouse Hill Rd, Sterling, MA), at 4:00 pm. Donations to Doctors Without Borders in honor of Cheryl are preferred in lieu of flowers.