Anne "Nancy" Bowers

Anne Barbara “Nancy” Bowers was born on May 21, 1932, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to Anna and John Kolb. She was the oldest of 3, survived by her sister, Joan DiMaria and her brother John Michael Kolb.

From an early age, Nancy was an exceptional student, graduating at the top of her class and playing basketball for Mount St. Joseph Academy. She attended Gwynedd Mercy College, where she earned her degree as a Medical Technologist.

Shortly after graduation, through what Nancy would later consider divine intervention, a friend arranged a blind date with a young man named Richard E. Bowers. That date marked the beginning of what Nancy lovingly called “the most amazing journey of her life.”

Nancy and Richard were married on June 13, 1953, beginning a beautiful marriage and a life centered around faith, family, and love until Richard's death in 2019. Together, they were devoted parents to their five children: Joan M. Pearce of Naples, Florida; Barbara Bigford (Doug) of Paoli, Pennsylvania; Richard M. Bowers (Elena) of Natick, Massachusetts; Michael F. Bowers (Gretchen) of Malvern, Pennsylvania; and Susan Demski (Dave) of Newtown Square, Pennsylvania. Above all Nancy devoted herself to her family, creating a home filled with faith, laughter, and unconditional love.

Nancy had a lifelong desire to learn and to care for others. In her mid-fifties, she recognized a need to help people achieve better health through nutrition. With remarkable determination, she left her part-time work as a medical technologist and returned to college, enrolling at Immaculata University to pursue a second degree in nutrition. Nancy graduated with highest honors and became a Registered Dietitian, allowing her to continue doing what came so naturally to her—helping and caring for others. She worked at Beaumont in Bryn Mawr and in her 70's she was deeply involved in a Hospice Program for Nutrition.

To her family, one of Nancy’s most treasured roles was simply “Nana.” She was the proud and loving grandmother of 13 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren, each of whom brought tremendous joy to her life.

Nancy’s faith was at the heart of who she was. God, prayer, and her relationship with Him were woven throughout her life. Beginning in 1969, Nancy became deeply involved with Daylesford Abbey, a place that remained meaningful to her faith journey. She was a woman of prayer who trusted God and understood the importance of turning to Him in all seasons of life.

One passage of Scripture especially reflected the way Nancy lived: "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances." 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18. These were more than words to Nancy, they were the way she lived her life. She chose joy, she prayed faithfully, and she carried an extraordinarily grateful heart through every season.

Nancy was a light to those around her. She loved to love—her family, her friends, and the people God placed in her path. She possessed a remarkable ability to see the good in everyone and approached life with an unwavering sense of positivity and gratitude. Her beautiful smile reflected the joy she carried within her, and those who knew her will remember how naturally that joy radiated to others.

She appreciated the great blessings as well as the smallest gifts of an ordinary day. Rather than focusing on what was wrong, Nancy looked for what was good—and somehow helped everyone around her see it, too. One of the lessons she often shared beautifully captured the way she lived:

“If you want to truly be happy, do for others. If you see someone in need, or someone who is simply down, be the person who helps.”Nancy didn’t just speak those words. She lived them.

Nancy leaves behind a legacy of faith, love, gratitude, kindness, and light that will continue through the generations of the family she loved so dearly.

And now, after a life so beautifully lived, Nancy has been welcomed into Heaven by her Savior, Jesus, and reunited with her beloved Richard. She often said that Richard had gone ahead and was “getting things ready for her.”

We can only imagine the joy of that reunion—and take comfort in knowing that Nancy is home, surrounded by the love of God she trusted throughout her life.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in Nancy's memory to Daylesford Abbey in Paoli, Pennsylvania, a place that was deeply meaningful to her and her lifelong faith journey (link below).

A viewing will be held at Daylesford Abbey (220 S Valley Rd, Paoli, PA 19301) on September 5, 2026, from 10:00 am to 11:00 am, followed by a Funeral Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 am to 12:00 pm. A committal will follow at Calvary Cemetery (2025 Old Gulph Rd, Villanova, PA 19085) from 12:30 pm to 12:45 pm.

After the burial, a luncheon will be held at Demski's home in Newtown Square at 2pm.