Nancy J. Bower, 71, of Forest Park died Oct. 5. Nancy was born Sept. 3, 1941 and lived in the same house on Ferdinand her entire life. She attended Garfield grade school, Grant-White middle school, Proviso East High school and Northern Illinois University. She worked for the State of Illinois beginning in the 1980s, first for then-state senator Judy Barr-Topinka and then at the Secretary of State office, where she worked as an informal hearing officer.
Nancy was active in Forest Park Kiwanis and was one of the club’s first female members — at one point serving as president. With the club, she delivered Christmas presents, worked at the beer concession for the Fourth of July, helped with the annual Pasta dinner, and sold peanuts. She was active in state and local politics.
During the summer she could be found at the Forest Park pool either with great-grandkids — who called her Nani — or by herself. She enjoyed travel worldwide, or a trip to the Wisconsin vacation home her father built in the 1950s.
She is survived by her son Todd (Pam) and their three daughters Laura Sevda, Patti Chmura, and Angela Bower. She was great grandmother to Anthony 12, Danny 10, Johnny 8, Angelina 7, and Gavin 4.
Visitation will take place Wednesday, 3 – 9 p.m. at Zimmerman-Harnett Funeral Home, 7319 W. Madison St., Forest Park. Services will be held Thursday at 10:30 a.m. Internment Elmwood Cemetery. Info: 708-366-2200 or www.zimermanharnett.com.
