Dora Bower passed away peacefully Monday, February 18, 2013, at the age of 93 years. She was a resident of Care Choice of Boerne for the past eight months. She liked to "brag" to everyone that she actually worked 41 years at the Hill Top Nursing Home, which is now Care Choice, until retiring for 10 years and then returned as a resident.
In 1989, Mrs. Bower was recognized as a special employee of Hill Top. She had been with the facility since it first opened in 1961. At the time Dora began with the nursing home, there were no activities. Dora was on the pilot program and was one of the first activity directors in this area. Her activities program grew and flourished. At times other directors in the area called on her for her help and knowledge and patterned their own programs after hers. She dedicated a great deal of time towards the activities program by taking the residents crafts to various fairs in the area to sell so the residents could reap the rewards of making a few dollars. She made sure the residents stayed active not only with crafts but light exercises and organized special functions and social events. Ms. Betty Price, Director of Hill Top Nursing Home, once stated that during her tenure with the nursing home Mrs. Bower worked in every capacity of nursing home operations. She was highly valued by the staff and all the residents.
In addition to crafts, Mrs. Bower enjoyed working in her flower bed, cooking, baking, and taking walks around the block with her dog Heidi, and attending various events at the Kronkosky Place. She loved George Strait and the Spurs, but nothing was more important to her than her family.
Mrs. Bower was born in Fredericksburg, Texas on October 1, 1919, and was one of 12 children of Albert and Emma Stehling. She was preceded in death by her husband, Ralph A. Bower; son, Kenneth John Buckelew; granddaughter, Debbie Buckelew; stepsons, Ralph Garrett Bower (Janie) and Harold Dale Bower; and granddaughter, Suzan Raymond. She is survived by her daughters, Judy Buckelew Collins (Jerry), Barbara Buckelew Moore (Jim), and Lori Bower Carroll (Marty); daughter-in-law, Helen Buckelew; stepdaughter, Helen Bower Hollis (John); stepson, James Bower (Pauline); step daughter-in-law, Shirley Bower; sisters Gladys Edwards (John) and Frances Pfiester of Fredericksburg and Lou Durst and Verena Langhennig (Walton) of San Antonio; 43 grandchildren;15 great grandchildren; 12 great great grandchildren; and 1 great great great grandchild.
Visitation will be at the Ebensberger-Fisher Funeral Home located at 111 Rosewood on Thursday, February 21, 2013, from 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. with Rosary following the visitation. Funeral Services and Mass of Christian Burial for Dora Bower will be held at St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Church, 202 W. Kronkosky, Boerne, TX on Friday, February 22, 2013, at 11:30 a.m. Burial will be immediately following the church service at the Boerne Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Kronkosky Place at 17 Old San Antonio Road, Boerne, TX 78006 or to the charity of your choice. To leave condolences for the family and to view a video of Dora's life, please visit www.ebensberger-fisher.com and select the Obituaries tab.
Arrangements with Ebensberger-Fisher Funeral Home of Boerne.