Ilona Bowers Obituary

Ilona Contos Bowers, 84, passed away peacefully on Thursday, July 5, 2025. Born on August 4, 1940, in Frankfurt, Germany. She survived the chaos of World War II, endured life in wartime and post-war Germany, and lived her formative years in a Catholic orphanage. Ilona’s life was marked by resilience, warmth, and a deep love for her family, animals, and the beauty of nature. In her prime, she enjoyed a brief career in modeling and in the movie industry while living in Spain and the United States.

Ilona made her home in Bossier City, Louisiana, where she raised her children and built a life rooted in care and kindness. She found joy in gardening, nurturing both plants and animals with loving devotion.

She is survived by her sister, Hannelore Woods of Tampa, Florida; her brother, Norman Contos of Erding, Germany; her former husband, retired Chief Master Sergeant Donald Bowers, and her two sons, Ronald Bowers and Donald Bowers, all living in Bossier City, Louisiana.

Ilona’s memory will live on in the hearts of those who love her, especially her family, who were the center of her life.

A funeral service for Ilona Contos Bowers will be held on Saturday, July 12, 2025, at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, 2201 Airline Drive, Bossier City, Louisiana. Burial will follow at Hill Crest Memorial Park Cemetery in Haughton, Louisiana. A visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the service.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Dementia Society of America, www.dementiasociety.org, in Ilona’s honor.