With loving family at her side, Dorothy E. Bower Strouse passed peacefully from this life and into the hands of her Lord and the Blessed Mother on Dec. 6, 2012.
Born Jan. 5, 1916, in Jersey Shore, she was the second of nine children of Robert and Elizabeth Eiswerth Saar. She most recently had been a resident of Elmcroft.
As a child, she attended Immaculate Conception Church and School in Bastress until the eighth grade. She then worked at Williamsport Narrow Fabrics until her marriage to Joseph W. Bower in 1935.
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Dorothy E. Bower Strouse
Following his untimely death in 1955 at the age of 42, she bore his fifth child, and two years later went to work at GTE Sylvania as a clerk, where she was employed until retirement.
In later years, Dorothy was married to William J. (Bud) Strouse until his death in 1991. She stayed very close with her family and stepfamily, brothers and sisters, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. The family often referred to her as "Mother Superior." She loved get-togethers, particularly when it included a card game, and her favorite was poker. She could best everyone at Rummikub. She was known for her strong faith, inventive pearls of wisdom, and no-nonsense style of dealing with life.
A resident of Williamsport for most of her life, Dorothy was active in St. Boniface Catholic Church and a member of the Bereavement Committee, the Knights of Columbus Council No. 366 Auxiliary, Loyalsock Township Volunteer Fire Department Auxiliary, Top of the Hill Club and Senior Citizens. She also volunteered at Divine Providence Hospital and was a member of its Auxiliary.
In addition to her parents and husbands, Dorothy was preceded in death by three sisters, Bernadine Hartsock, Mary Schuler and Kathleen Starr; four brothers, Charles, William, Robert and Paul; and a grandson, Adam Bower. She is survived by sons, James (Cynthia) of Williamsport, Richard (Charmain) of Kingston, Robert (Cindy) of North Bend, Ore., Joseph (Judy) of Pottsville; daughter, Joan Kennedy of Montoursville; a brother, Joseph (Grace), of Dallas, Texas; stepsons, William Strouse (Cecelia) of Hummelstown, Richard Strouse (Joyce) of Berwick, Joseph Strouse (Claire) of Williamsport, Robert Strouse (Sue) of Dubois; and stepdaughter, Cathy (Dan) Getz of Trumbull, Conn. She is also survived by 11 grandchildren, 14 stepgrandchildren, 20 great-grandchildren, and three stepgreat-grandchildren.
A mass of Christian burial will be held at St. Boniface Catholic Church, Williamsport, at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2012. Friends and family will be received at 8:30 a.m. prior to the mass. Following a brief service at St. Boniface Cemetery, Penn Street, a brunch gathering will be held at the St. Boniface Church lower level dinner hall.
The family will provide the flowers. At Dorothy's request, memorial contributions are suggested to St. Boniface Catholic Church, 326 Washington Blvd., Williamsport, PA 17701.
