The seven photos attached to this memorial are a progression of Mary's age. The final photo being of her with "HER" 2008 Yellow Corvette that her husband got her for an early Christmas. The salesmen said it was the first time they had ever sold a Corvette to a blind person.
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LAKE FOREST, CA. – Mary Helen Novak, age 47, died unexpectedly, at her home in Lake Forest, California on January 1, 2008.
She was born August 22, 1960 in Denver, Colorado to Dan Bower, Jr. (Daniel E. Bower, Jr.) and Helen (Burtch) Bower (Helen A. Burtch-Bower)
She married Jerome Joseph "Jerry" Novak, Jr. on January 18, 1997, in Golden, Colorado. He survives of the home. They moved to southern California, near L.A.
Survivors include her husband, Jerry; three brothers, Norman DeVere Martin (Lila) of Tucson, AZ, Jon David Bower (Diane) of Pagosa Springs, CO, and James Stephen "Steve" Bower (Donna) of Loveland, CO; two sisters, Janice Henderson (Tom), of Parker, CO, and Laurel "Lolly" Stoops (Ron), of Chanute, KS; an aunt, Ellen (Bower) Knock of Chanute, KS; an uncle, W. Fred Bower of Chanute, KS; 19 nieces and nephews; many great-nieces and nephews; and numerous cousins. And, never to be forgotten, are the ones she considered her children, her four dogs, Voight (her current faithful service dog [a black lab], Annie, the old best friend German Shepard?? mutt - Bubba, the English Mastiff, - and her new Christmas baby, Tucker, the Bassett Hound.
She was preceded in death by her father in 1975, and her mother in 1983; and her first precious guide dog, Frazier, who's ashes are inurned with hers.
Cremation has taken place. A funeral service will be held January 9, 2008, at St. George Episcopal Church in Laguna Hills, CA. Then a second memorial service will be held January 16, 2008, at the Calvary Episcopal Church in Golden, Colorado, with inurnment of ashes in the church Columbarium.
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts are suggested in Mary's name to, Guide Dogs of America, Guide Dogs for the Blind, the American Diabetes Organization, or the American Cancer Society.
Mary had a zest for life that was unbreakable. Even after a complete loss of sight, almost overnight, at about the age of 30, from a rare eye disorder, Mary could still see the light of day while the rest of us wallowed in darkness. She loved to live. She loved to experience new things every day. Not that every day of her life was totally perfect, but she always bounced back. She had a grand faith in the Lord.
She had graduated from Longmont (CO) High School and had gone on to major in Music at CSU and UNC, both singing and playing piano. Over the years, she had performed on stage and in theater. She had been a regular performer at Colorado Renaissance Festivals; In the past 15 years, she had recorded demo tapes for songwriters; sung backup for Lou Rawls; sung the national anthem at an opening game of the Rockies in Denver; she became a regular anthem singer for the Special Olympics in southern California; had formed her own band and performed at clubs in Denver; she and Jerry were the leadership of the contemporary music ministry for Calvary Episcopal Church in Golden, CO, and was currently on a temporary leave as the lead of the music ministry for St. George's Episcopal Church in Laguna Hills, CA. Choosing music, going home and memorizing the words, then teaching herself to play the music on her piano, before going back and teaching it to a choir. (and Jerry played along with her on guitar.) Too many experiences to mention them all.
She had also been a medical technician, when she was younger, in Longmont, CO and Phoenix, AZ. And in high school she had been a German exchange student.
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LAKE FOREST, CA. – Mary Helen Novak, age 47, died unexpectedly, at her home in Lake Forest, California on January 1, 2008.
She was born August 22, 1960 in Denver, Colorado to Dan Bower, Jr. (Daniel E. Bower, Jr.) and Helen (Burtch) Bower (Helen A. Burtch-Bower)
She married Jerome Joseph "Jerry" Novak, Jr. on January 18, 1997, in Golden, Colorado. He survives of the home. They moved to southern California, near L.A.
Survivors include her husband, Jerry; three brothers, Norman DeVere Martin (Lila) of Tucson, AZ, Jon David Bower (Diane) of Pagosa Springs, CO, and James Stephen "Steve" Bower (Donna) of Loveland, CO; two sisters, Janice Henderson (Tom), of Parker, CO, and Laurel "Lolly" Stoops (Ron), of Chanute, KS; an aunt, Ellen (Bower) Knock of Chanute, KS; an uncle, W. Fred Bower of Chanute, KS; 19 nieces and nephews; many great-nieces and nephews; and numerous cousins. And, never to be forgotten, are the ones she considered her children, her four dogs, Voight (her current faithful service dog [a black lab], Annie, the old best friend German Shepard?? mutt - Bubba, the English Mastiff, - and her new Christmas baby, Tucker, the Bassett Hound.
She was preceded in death by her father in 1975, and her mother in 1983; and her first precious guide dog, Frazier, who's ashes are inurned with hers.
Cremation has taken place. A funeral service will be held January 9, 2008, at St. George Episcopal Church in Laguna Hills, CA. Then a second memorial service will be held January 16, 2008, at the Calvary Episcopal Church in Golden, Colorado, with inurnment of ashes in the church Columbarium.
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts are suggested in Mary's name to, Guide Dogs of America, Guide Dogs for the Blind, the American Diabetes Organization, or the American Cancer Society.
Mary had a zest for life that was unbreakable. Even after a complete loss of sight, almost overnight, at about the age of 30, from a rare eye disorder, Mary could still see the light of day while the rest of us wallowed in darkness. She loved to live. She loved to experience new things every day. Not that every day of her life was totally perfect, but she always bounced back. She had a grand faith in the Lord.
She had graduated from Longmont (CO) High School and had gone on to major in Music at CSU and UNC, both singing and playing piano. Over the years, she had performed on stage and in theater. She had been a regular performer at Colorado Renaissance Festivals; In the past 15 years, she had recorded demo tapes for songwriters; sung backup for Lou Rawls; sung the national anthem at an opening game of the Rockies in Denver; she became a regular anthem singer for the Special Olympics in southern California; had formed her own band and performed at clubs in Denver; she and Jerry were the leadership of the contemporary music ministry for Calvary Episcopal Church in Golden, CO, and was currently on a temporary leave as the lead of the music ministry for St. George's Episcopal Church in Laguna Hills, CA. Choosing music, going home and memorizing the words, then teaching herself to play the music on her piano, before going back and teaching it to a choir. (and Jerry played along with her on guitar.) Too many experiences to mention them all.
She had also been a medical technician, when she was younger, in Longmont, CO and Phoenix, AZ. And in high school she had been a German exchange student.
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The seven photos attached to this memorial are a progression of Mary's age. The final photo being of her with "HER" 2008 Yellow Corvette that her husband got her for an early Christmas. The salesmen said it was the first time they had ever sold a Corvette to a blind person.
*********************
LAKE FOREST, CA. – Mary Helen Novak, age 47, died unexpectedly, at her home in Lake Forest, California on January 1, 2008.
She was born August 22, 1960 in Denver, Colorado to Dan Bower, Jr. (Daniel E. Bower, Jr.) and Helen (Burtch) Bower (Helen A. Burtch-Bower)
She married Jerome Joseph "Jerry" Novak, Jr. on January 18, 1997, in Golden, Colorado. He survives of the home. They moved to southern California, near L.A.
Survivors include her husband, Jerry; three brothers, Norman DeVere Martin (Lila) of Tucson, AZ, Jon David Bower (Diane) of Pagosa Springs, CO, and James Stephen "Steve" Bower (Donna) of Loveland, CO; two sisters, Janice Henderson (Tom), of Parker, CO, and Laurel "Lolly" Stoops (Ron), of Chanute, KS; an aunt, Ellen (Bower) Knock of Chanute, KS; an uncle, W. Fred Bower of Chanute, KS; 19 nieces and nephews; many great-nieces and nephews; and numerous cousins. And, never to be forgotten, are the ones she considered her children, her four dogs, Voight (her current faithful service dog [a black lab], Annie, the old best friend German Shepard?? mutt - Bubba, the English Mastiff, - and her new Christmas baby, Tucker, the Bassett Hound.
She was preceded in death by her father in 1975, and her mother in 1983; and her first precious guide dog, Frazier, who's ashes are inurned with hers.
Cremation has taken place. A funeral service will be held January 9, 2008, at St. George Episcopal Church in Laguna Hills, CA. Then a second memorial service will be held January 16, 2008, at the Calvary Episcopal Church in Golden, Colorado, with inurnment of ashes in the church Columbarium.
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts are suggested in Mary's name to, Guide Dogs of America, Guide Dogs for the Blind, the American Diabetes Organization, or the American Cancer Society.
Mary had a zest for life that was unbreakable. Even after a complete loss of sight, almost overnight, at about the age of 30, from a rare eye disorder, Mary could still see the light of day while the rest of us wallowed in darkness. She loved to live. She loved to experience new things every day. Not that every day of her life was totally perfect, but she always bounced back. She had a grand faith in the Lord.
She had graduated from Longmont (CO) High School and had gone on to major in Music at CSU and UNC, both singing and playing piano. Over the years, she had performed on stage and in theater. She had been a regular performer at Colorado Renaissance Festivals; In the past 15 years, she had recorded demo tapes for songwriters; sung backup for Lou Rawls; sung the national anthem at an opening game of the Rockies in Denver; she became a regular anthem singer for the Special Olympics in southern California; had formed her own band and performed at clubs in Denver; she and Jerry were the leadership of the contemporary music ministry for Calvary Episcopal Church in Golden, CO, and was currently on a temporary leave as the lead of the music ministry for St. George's Episcopal Church in Laguna Hills, CA. Choosing music, going home and memorizing the words, then teaching herself to play the music on her piano, before going back and teaching it to a choir. (and Jerry played along with her on guitar.) Too many experiences to mention them all.
She had also been a medical technician, when she was younger, in Longmont, CO and Phoenix, AZ. And in high school she had been a German exchange student.
*********************************
*********************
LAKE FOREST, CA. – Mary Helen Novak, age 47, died unexpectedly, at her home in Lake Forest, California on January 1, 2008.
She was born August 22, 1960 in Denver, Colorado to Dan Bower, Jr. (Daniel E. Bower, Jr.) and Helen (Burtch) Bower (Helen A. Burtch-Bower)
She married Jerome Joseph "Jerry" Novak, Jr. on January 18, 1997, in Golden, Colorado. He survives of the home. They moved to southern California, near L.A.
Survivors include her husband, Jerry; three brothers, Norman DeVere Martin (Lila) of Tucson, AZ, Jon David Bower (Diane) of Pagosa Springs, CO, and James Stephen "Steve" Bower (Donna) of Loveland, CO; two sisters, Janice Henderson (Tom), of Parker, CO, and Laurel "Lolly" Stoops (Ron), of Chanute, KS; an aunt, Ellen (Bower) Knock of Chanute, KS; an uncle, W. Fred Bower of Chanute, KS; 19 nieces and nephews; many great-nieces and nephews; and numerous cousins. And, never to be forgotten, are the ones she considered her children, her four dogs, Voight (her current faithful service dog [a black lab], Annie, the old best friend German Shepard?? mutt - Bubba, the English Mastiff, - and her new Christmas baby, Tucker, the Bassett Hound.
She was preceded in death by her father in 1975, and her mother in 1983; and her first precious guide dog, Frazier, who's ashes are inurned with hers.
Cremation has taken place. A funeral service will be held January 9, 2008, at St. George Episcopal Church in Laguna Hills, CA. Then a second memorial service will be held January 16, 2008, at the Calvary Episcopal Church in Golden, Colorado, with inurnment of ashes in the church Columbarium.
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts are suggested in Mary's name to, Guide Dogs of America, Guide Dogs for the Blind, the American Diabetes Organization, or the American Cancer Society.
Mary had a zest for life that was unbreakable. Even after a complete loss of sight, almost overnight, at about the age of 30, from a rare eye disorder, Mary could still see the light of day while the rest of us wallowed in darkness. She loved to live. She loved to experience new things every day. Not that every day of her life was totally perfect, but she always bounced back. She had a grand faith in the Lord.
She had graduated from Longmont (CO) High School and had gone on to major in Music at CSU and UNC, both singing and playing piano. Over the years, she had performed on stage and in theater. She had been a regular performer at Colorado Renaissance Festivals; In the past 15 years, she had recorded demo tapes for songwriters; sung backup for Lou Rawls; sung the national anthem at an opening game of the Rockies in Denver; she became a regular anthem singer for the Special Olympics in southern California; had formed her own band and performed at clubs in Denver; she and Jerry were the leadership of the contemporary music ministry for Calvary Episcopal Church in Golden, CO, and was currently on a temporary leave as the lead of the music ministry for St. George's Episcopal Church in Laguna Hills, CA. Choosing music, going home and memorizing the words, then teaching herself to play the music on her piano, before going back and teaching it to a choir. (and Jerry played along with her on guitar.) Too many experiences to mention them all.
She had also been a medical technician, when she was younger, in Longmont, CO and Phoenix, AZ. And in high school she had been a German exchange student.
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