Contributions to the tribute of Ronald Paul Dower

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Trisha Dower posted a condolence

Wednesday, October 15, 2025

Aunt Maura, Teri, Sheila and Ronnie, So sorry for your loss. It is never easy to loose a beloved family member. I have so many memories or Uncle Ronnie. All the parties at my latest house with all of us cousins also. Memories that will last a lifetime time. He will be missed but he’s up in heaven with his brothers. Love you all Trisha Dower

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Daniel J Rae posted a condolence

Tuesday, October 14, 2025

Dear Aunt Maura, Terry, Ronnie, Sheila and Families, Although I've been with you these past days. I wanted to put some thoughts down in written form. I am sorry for Uncle Ronnie's passing and for your loss. My deepest condolences to the entire Dower family! Wishing you all peace & comfort! I am flooded with so many happy memories when thinking about Uncle Ronnie and all the great dinners we shared at our homes. I wanted to celebrate and convey some of my happy memories here on Uncle Ronnie's tribute wall. Growing up I learned and observed that all families go through good times and tough times. Life is always throwing curve balls at all of us. I learned to handle adversity from my own Mom and Dad but also from all the mentors/adults I've interacted with all these years. I learned so much from being around you both Aunt Maura and Uncle Ronnie. I loved how Uncle Ronnie took great pride and selected the best cuts of meat for delicious meals. How he carved turkey, roast beef or london broils. He carved and sliced and made sure everyone at his table had plenty to eat. I've shared with you all how Uncle Ronnie's dinner table was the only dinner table I've been a guest at. Where I was never asked if I wanted a second helping. Uncle Ronnie never asked me one time if I would like seconds. Uncle Ronnie would see me eating and enjoying a delicious dinner and just get up from his seat and start carving more turkey, putting it on my plate. And then repeat again until I was full. This is one example of how I saw Uncle Ronnie never asking, just taking action and making sure everyone at his table had more than enough to eat! I got to work alongside Uncle Ronnie a handful of times. My automotive mechanical repair skills were that of an amateur. But I learned from my Dad and Uncle Ronnie. Uncle Ronnie would explain and teach me how to replace brakes on my car. And then teach me how to bleed the brakes. I watched Uncle Ronnie turn wrenches on cars when I was a little kid. I observed how Uncle Ronnie treated his tools like they were medical surgeons instruments. I watched how he always cleaned his oil funnel and wrapped it in a cloth rag. Putting it back in its place in the garage. His tools were always cleaned and put in the same spot after use. I try to do the same things he did. One of my favorite moments was years ago when Uncle Ronnie and I worked on compounding and waxing Aunt Maura's 10+ year old car. The car ran perfectly with all the mechanical expertise Uncle Ronnie put into the car. But the car had some scratches and blemishes from being 10+ years old. Uncle Ronnie and I worked on the car for 6 hours. Washing, polishing and waxing the car by hand. We had the car looking showroom clean and shiny as if it was brand new. About 6 hours of hard work and l loved every minute of working alongside Uncle Ronnie. We told jokes and laughed out loud (Uncle Ronnie has a unique and quirky sense of humor), drenched in sweat from the hot sun and hard work. We listened to Frankie Vali's greatest hits. Uncle Ronnie and I got to see Aunt Maura’s wide smile when she saw how new and shiny her car looked. Aunt Maura said “The car is so clean you can eat off it”! This is a great memory I cherish, it was fun and of course I was now getting another delicious dinner from Aunt Maura. I cherish the memories of going to the Casino, Outlet Malls, talking about Notre Dame Football, the NY Giants and NY Jets I watched and listened to how Uncle Ronnie talked and interacted with his family and everybody else. Uncle Ronnie loved you Aunt Maura and always would jump to do a task for you. He would tell me “I have to keep the Boss happy”! I would laugh. He was so kind. Uncle Ronnie loved you all: Terry, your dad would tell me how proud he was of you. How smart you are for getting your Masters Degree. Ronnie, your dad would tell me how proud he was of how good you are being a carpenter and other skills. The proof of your skills as a carpenter are not only in your home, but the work you did for your mom and dad's house. The kitchen came out great. Sheila, your dad would tell me how proud he was of you. You had a reputation of being strong willed and mischievous in your early years. But you harnessed those traits into your career. You have determination, tenacity and intelligence.Your dad and I would laugh how determined and strong willed you can be. And these traits serve you well. Terry, Ronnie and Sheila, your mom and dad taught you to be curious, kind and generous. To educate yourselves. To help others when someone needs a hand up in life. You all reflect so wonderfully on your Mom and Dad! You all gave your Dad the gift of being a proud father. You showed your love and caring these past years helping your dad and mom. You dad got to enjoy countless memories with all of you! You gave your dad the gift of leaving this earth with a peaceful heart. You all gave him great comfort and care! This is more priceless than a Irish pot of gold! Uncle Ronnie I watched you for over 50 plus years. I watched you set an example and do the following. Uncle Ronnie you honored your oath as a man!. You taught and led by example. Uncle Ronnie you honored your oath as a husband!. You loved Maura and always tried to make her happy. Uncle Ronnie you honored your oath as a father!. You cared for, and provided for Terry, Ronnie and Sheila. You showed great love and kindness to your daughterinlaw Kelly and soninlaw Jason. Uncle Ronnie you honored your oath as a grandfather! You and Aunt Maura spent time and showered Gavin and Starlyn with lots of love. Uncle Ronnie you honored your oath as a friend to all you encountered!. You always helped friends and neighbors when you could. You helped me and my mom and dad throughout the years. Uncle Ronnie you manned your post and stood your watch here on earth! The good Lord has called you to heaven. Uncle Ronnie rest easy knowing that your watch and post will now be manned by your wonderful and capable children (Terry, Ronnie and Sheila). They will take care of their mom (my Aunt Maura)! They will honor your memory by continuing to show all the love, generosity and kindness you worked so hard to instill in them! These past days I've thought about the Dower name and what a Coat of Arms would like. I came up with the following that would best represent the union of names Dower and Maguire. I would have on the Coat of Arms: A Lion on the leftside and a Lioness on the rightside: They would represent Uncle Ronnie and Aunt Maura. Together they represent strength, intelligence, teachers, protectors, and providers. A Sword: This would represent not violence, but a tool used for protection and to help fight against those that can not help themselves. A tool that could carve and slice turkey, roast beef and other foods to help feed the less fortunate. A Olive branch: This would represent the peace and calm you all provide. The welcoming of family and friends old and new into your home. The Latin phrase: Esto benignus - which translates to “to be kind, benevolent, or friendly”. Simplified “Just be Kind”! To me this sums up and encapsulates the Dower family I've known my whole life! Uncle Ronnie I learned in life that simplicity has beauty and value over complexity and grandeur. You taught us all to just work hard, to learn, to be kind, and help others! I think of you wearing a Notre Dame jacket and an Irish cap on your head on chilly fall day. You always looked like a distinguished Irish gentleman. You look liked, you were strolling through the Irish countryside! You could be an advertisement for Ireland's Tourism campaign ( I am smiling when I write this)! You exemplified a kind and distinguished Irish gentleman! Uncle Ronnie thank you for being kind and a gentleman. Thank you for all you have done for us these past decades. Your memories will live on with all of us. They will make us cry from the sorrow of losing you. But most of all we will laugh and smile, reliving and talking about all the memories you helped create! Uncle Ronnie it makes me smile to know my mom is up there in heaven with you! To help guide you through the Pearly Gates of Heaven. My mom will have a cup of coffee/tea and a piece of Irish soda bread waiting for you. My dad will tell you that he thinks the Pearly Gates are not truly level and squeak. So Uncle Ronnie you and my dad can get to work on your first mechanical project in Heaven (I am smiling writing this). This thought brings me peace and comfort as I hope it does for all of you. Fairwinds Uncle Ronnie rest in peace and thank you again for all your love and kindness! Go Irish! I always found comfort in this Irish poem and I hope it does the same for you: “Those we love don’t go away. They walk beside us every day. Unseen, unheard, but always near, still loved, still missed, and still very dear!” God Bless the Dower and Rae families! Please continue to look down on us from Heaven and continue to watch over and guide us all! It gives me great comfort knowing that Uncle Ronnie, my mom and dad will be watching over us. Continuing to help protect and guide us all. May God continue to bless the Dower and Rae families! Fairwinds Uncle Ronnie rest in peace and thank you again for all your love and kindness! Go Irish! Aunt Maura I am so sorry for your loss. I love you more than words could adequately convey! Terry, Ronnie and Sheila I am sorry for your loss. I love you all! With Love and condolences, Danny or as Uncle Ronnie called me “Danny boy” My thoughts and prayers are with your entire Dower family! PS sorry for not being brief. You all know I have trouble being brief. But,I had so much I wanted to celebrate about Uncle Ronnie!

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The family of Ronald Paul Dower uploaded a photo

Monday, October 13, 2025

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The family of Ronald Paul Dower uploaded a photo

Monday, October 13, 2025

Ronald Paul Dower

1937 - 2025

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