Sarah Cornelia Bower, 32, of Stephens City, Virginia, peacefully passed away Thursday, March 8, 2018, at Georgetown University Hospital after a long illness.
Sarah was born in 1985 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, beloved daughter of Deborah Crawford of Stephens City and William Bower of Galveston, Texas. She attended Sherando High School and graduated from Millbrook High School, Class of 2004. While in high school she was an active member of the National Honor Society, the theater, and the Leo Club. Sarah earned an Associate’s Degree in Science from Lord Fairfax Community College. In 2007 she began working as a pharmacy tech at Rite Aid in Stephens City, never missing a day of work until her hospitalization in 2015. Sarah was employee of the month several times at Rite Aid. Each year she would lead the March of Dimes Event for the Stephens City Rite Aid, helping with fundraisers. She was an avid Steel City fan, following the Steelers, Pirates, and Penguins. As member of the Lions Club she was very involved with the Lions civic events and fundraisers. Sarah was a member of Christ Episcopal Church where she would manage the nursery and travel on mission trips. She enjoyed Palm Sunday at her church and the interdenominational service on the Winchester walking mall. Sarah loved to bake, not only for all the fundraisers that she organized, but also for her family. She even taught her younger sister, Katie, how to bake cookies and brownies. Her greatest passion was her family, for they meant everything to her, especially her twin siblings, Katie and Cole and her cat, Henry. Sarah had a kind and genuine way about her and would do anything for anybody, and she always had a way of making people smile. Even when her illness made living difficult, her faith and courage in Christ sustained her as her body weakened.
Surviving is her mother, Deborah and her father, William; sisters, Ashley Patten and husband, Mike; Hannah Gutman; and Katie Crawford; brothers, William Bower and Jackie Arenth; Matthew Bower and fiance’, Lindsey Fisher; and Cole Crawford; grandmothers, Cornelia Frey and Betty Colligan; aunts and uncles, Mark Crawford and wife, Carol and their daughter, Eliana Crawford; Alice Robinson and Barbara Meacham; godmother, Barbara Sheffer and husband, Geoff and their son, Jay Sheffer and wife, Lauren; nieces and nephews, Elizabeth, Max, Cody, Carson, and Connor Patten.
Sarah was preceded in death by grandparents, Edward Crawford, Walter Frey, and C. Richard Bower; and uncle, Robert Bower.
A gathering of family and friends will be from 4:30pm to 7:30pm on Friday, March 23rd, at the Omps Funeral Home, Amherst Chapel, 1600 Amherst St., Winchester, VA.
A Celebration of Life will be at 11am on Saturday, March 24th, at the Amherst Chapel, Omps Funeral Home with Reverend Webster Gibson officiating. Following Sarah’s service all are invited to a Steelers themed barbecue in the Omps Reception Center. Interment will be private in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Sarah always appreciated the excellent care provided by the doctors, nurses, and staff of Georgetown University Hospital, and she especially loved the Back Street Boys dance parties celebrated by the nursing staff.
Memorial contributions in Sarah’s memory may be made to Stephens City Lions Club, P.O. Box 128, Stephens City, Virginia 22655 or to Georgetown University Hospital, c/o Sarah Bower Memorial Fund, 3800 Reservoir Rd. NW, Washington, D.C. 20007.