Gladys McGuire Bower (nee Georgia) of the Township of Washington, NJ, formerly of Northvale and Upper Saddle River died on July 30, 2013. She was 86 and is survived by four of her five children: Kathleen (Theodore) Gershon of Princeton Junction, NJ; Nancy (Louis) Sheffler of Harrington Park, NJ; Louise (Thomas) Quinn of Sparta, NJ; and James (Stephen Coy) McGuire, Jr. of Boston, MA; six grandchildren: Brian (Carol), Michael (Kate), and Jason (Tiffany) Gershon; Cara Marsh Sheffler; and Casey and Kathryn Quinn; seven great-grandsons; her sister Florence Larkin; son-in-law E. Barrett Prettyman, Jr.; two step-children: Susan (Ben) Parker of Aurora, CO and Richard (Jacqueline) Bower of Danville, CA; five step-grandchildren and three step-great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by her two beloved husbands, former Northvale Mayor and Bergen County Freeholder James F. McGuire to whom she was married for 32 years and Harvey S. Bower to whom she was married for almost 20 years. She was also predeceased by her cherished youngest daughter, Dr. Noreen McGuire Prettyman of Washington, DC.
After retiring from the Bergen County Department of Community Development, Gladys continued to be actively involved in charity work, crocheting blankets and making quilts and donating them to local hospitals. She was a life-long member of St. Anthony’s parish in Northvale, NJ and was active in the James F. McGuire Memorial Senior Center, where she served as a Board Member for many years.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to The James F. McGuire Memorial Senior Citizen Center, 116 Paris Avenue, Northvale, NJ 07647.
The family will receive visitors at the Pizzi Funeral Home, 120 Paris Avenue, Northvale, NJ on Thursday, August 1, from 2-4 and 7-9PM. Mass of Christian Burial will be offered on Friday, August 2, 2013 at 10AM at St. Anthony’s RC Church, Paris Avenue, Northvale, NJ followed by interment at Rockland Cemetery, Kings Highway, Sparkill, NY.