A friend to all, MaryJean Cummings Bower of Bloomsburg, PA, passed away at Geisinger Medical Center on June 12, 2026 after a brief illness. MaryJean was the wife of Michael J. Bower and the daughter of the late Richard and Jean Cummings. Born in Scranton, PA, she spent part of her childhood in Amherst, NY before the family moved to Clarks Summit, PA. MaryJean passed following a 23-day battle with metastatic cancer that had been progressing undetected for some time.

MaryJean graduated from Abington Heights High School and continued her education at Bloomsburg State College, earning a B.S. in Elementary Education. After college, she worked at Frosty Valley Country Club, prior to the start of her teaching career at the Hernando Elementary School in the Citrus County Florida School District. MaryJean married and returned to Pennsylvania to teach in Bloomsburg and many surrounding schools. She took pride in earning a Master’s Degree in Education/Reading Specialist which she used in evaluating curriculum for home school families.

Her greatest joys were being a loving mother to four children and creating a home for her family while volunteering at schools and organizations, such as Columbia County Christian School for the soccer team concessions stand and the BAY swim team. As a talented seamstress, she made beautiful dresses and bonnets for her daughters, a suit for her husband, and a Mork and Mindy Vest with detachable sleeves which he wore proudly for years. She was also a talented and prolific quilter, making beautiful quilts and quilted items for family and friends. She especially loved making quilts for veterans through the Quilts of Valor program-she had a very special place in heart for veterans because her father and other family members were veterans.

A person of great faith and a devoted Catholic, she spent her life in service to others. She worshiped at St. Columba in Bloomsburg and St. Joseph in Berwick. She was a member of Vintage Gatherers of Muncy Historical Society, Quilters in Bloom, and Quilts of Valor. She made pillowcases for the charity Ryan’s Case for Smiles; these pillowcases went to children with cancer and life-threatening diseases. She was a member and secretary of the international Philanthropic Education Organization (PEO) – Chapter CI. Just a day before her illness, she was a poll worker for the Pennsylvania primary election in Scott Township. On many days, you could find her on her porch reading or quilting while admiring her husband’s floral garden. MaryJean and her husband loved attending Penn State football and basketball games, but most of all, she loved others, and she was kind.

In addition to her husband, Mike, she is survived by her daughters, Kaylin Bower and husband Michael Lombard; Kiersten Novick and husband Daniel; Karyn Bower and husband Sam Weech; and son, Brian Bower and fiancée Jessica Dawson. She was a grandmother to Maxwell Lombard and Samson Bower, along with bonus grandchildren Remington, Sebastian, and Violeta, and Maya. Also surviving are her brothers, Richard Cummings and late wife Erin, Vineyard Haven, MA; Robert Cummings and wife Jean, West Hartford, CT; and sister, Nancy Cummings, Clarks Summit; brother-in-law Bob Bower and wife Patty, Millsboro, DE; and sister-in-law Gloria Harer of Williamsport.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated for MaryJean at 10 AM on Friday, June 19, 2026 at St. Columba Catholic Church, 342 Iron Street, Bloomsburg, with Reverend Aaron Lynch presiding as Celebrant. A celebration of life will be announced at a later date.

The family would like to thank the staff of Geisinger Medical Center, especially those on the neuroscience ICU, BP5, and GP4 hospice units. They cared for MaryJean with compassion and filled her stay with laughter, comfort, and moments of joy.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to PEO Chapter CI (please send contributions to: Wanda Sheatler, Treasurer, 158 Camp Rd, Bloomsburg, PA 17815) or Quilts of Valor.