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Theresa Fratti Bowers (“Terri”), 77, of Madeira, Ohio passed away on Friday, February 22, 2019. Terri was born on October 29, 1941 in Decatur, Illinois, and was the only child of Guerino and Geneva (Conrath) Fratti. She grew up at 231 W. Packard Street, and as a young child began helping out at her Dad's soda bottling company, F&B Bottling Co., which was located across the street. She attended Stephen Decatur High School and graduated in 1959. After high school, she attended the University of Wisconsin in Madison, where she was a member of the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority, and graduated in 1963 with a degree in nursing. Always adventurous, she moved out west to Los Angeles, California upon completion of her degree. Once there, she enrolled in classes at the University of California at Los Angeles and received her master’s in nursing education. She met the love of her life, Richard Bowers (“Dick”) on a blind date, and they were married on August 12, 1967 in Encino, California. They moved to Madeira, Ohio from San Jose, California in 1975 and lived on Cherokee Drive for over 40 years. In addition to working as an OB/GYN Registered Nurse at the University of Cincinnati hospital for over 35 years, she taught Lamaze and childbirth classes, and positively influenced countless lives over the years. Terri was a passionate and active contributor to every community she lived in throughout her life, and she was loved by all who knew her. Terri had a full life and enjoyed many hobbies and pastimes. She was a sports fan in general, but particularly enjoyed watching women's basketball and figure skating and had no issues with summarily and forcefully removing anyone watching anything else on the family TV whenever her favorite sports programs were on. She had an underrated mid-range jump shot, and would often challenge her boys to games of "horse" and "pig" in the driveway. She enjoyed craft fairs, knitting, decorating the house for any and all holidays, an occasional Corona Light, turtleneck shirts, and her “super-special” Sunshine Golden Fruit biscuits, which she tracked down and stockpiled when she found out they had been discontinued. She loved traveling and enjoyed returning to Decatur, Illinois where she would always head to Del's Popcorn Shop in downtown Decatur for some popcorn and a tasty bit of fudge. A voracious reader of mystery novels, she enjoyed turning in early with a good book and was a frequent visitor of the Madeira and Madisonville branch libraries. She was particularly fond of this quote from Mary Ann Radmacher, “Courage doesn't always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, 'I will try again tomorrow.’” She was devoted to her family, and was a great friend, a wonderful mother, and a beloved wife. Terri is survived by her cherished husband of over 50 years, Dick; her three sons and their families, Blake Bowers and wife, Katherine of Cincinnati, Ohio; Evan Bowers and wife, Erin of Decatur, Georgia; Nolan Bowers and wife, Wanda of Bloomfield, New Jersey; five grandchildren, Tyler, Quinn, Morgan, Julien and Cole Bowers; her sister-in-law, Shelley Bowers Schweitzer of Wheaton, Illinois; her niece, Meredith Britt and husband, Jon of Los Angeles, California, and nephew, Andrew Schweitzer and wife Jenna of Wheaton, Illinois. She is preceded in death by her parents. She will be deeply missed and forever loved. A Celebration of Life ceremony will be held on April 27th from 4-6 pm at the First Unitarian Church of Cincinnati - 536 Linton St., Cincinnati, OH 45219. The Celebration of Life ceremony will be open to all friends and family. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the UC Brain Tumor Center online at: https://foundation.uc.edu/areas-donate?id=bc52afc5-763d-4df1-a642-2de08695e61c Please write “Terri Bowers” in the empty box. Or by mail to: The University of Cincinnati Foundation, PO Box 19970 | Cincinnati, OH 45219

Tributes

Theresa "Terri" Fratti Bowers

October 29, 1941 - February 22, 2019