Marie Lilas Violet Cowan

Besides her parents, she was predeceased by her husband of 53 years William E Cowan, son William H Cowan, granddaughter Amanda Marshall and sister Gwendolyn Daine.

She is survived by brothers Harry and James Daine, sister Rowena Mahar, daughters Deborah (Kevin Marshall), and Heather, sons Edward (Carol Anne), and David, daughter-in-law Lori Cowan. grandchildren Morgan Cowan, William J Cowan, Christina Marshall, Erin Osmond (Arron), Violet Smith-Cowan, great grandson Hunter Cowan-Splane and many nieces and nephews.

She attended Queen Elizabeth High School in Halifax and loved playing basketball for her school team. Their team won the NS Highschool Provincial Championship. She excelled in languages while in school (English, French and Latin).

During her teen years she was involved in CGIT (Canadian Girls in Training), a church based group for females aged 11-17. She often shared great memories of being there and the friends she made, some who ended up being life-long friends. Their vow was “Cherish Health, Seek Truth, Know God, Serve Others”. Mom lived her whole life by these values.

One of the first graduates from the newly built Halifax Vocational School, secretarial program, she excelled in typing and shorthand- and used those skills throughout her life often serving as secretary for numerous committees and organizations she participated in. She rarely made spelling or other mistakes which was very helpful in those early days before white out, self- correcting typewriters, and word processors/ computers.

Her first job was as Secretary for a Manager of RBC Royal Bank in Halifax. She left this job when she married Dad and had her first child (as was expected in those times).

She would often help her Uncle Hector Newport, who owned Rosedale Nurseries, on a part time basis, with typing invoices for their customers. She helped out during holidays when it was very busy in the flower shop even into her retirement years.

While living at the base at CFB Shearwater she also worked as a secretary for one of the squadrons there. She was an excellent bowler, winning many trophies in the Shearwater Ladies League. She also served on the Executive of the Shearwater Figure Skating Club for a number of years.

After we moved to Cole Harbour, she worked as Church Secretary for 18 years at Woodlawn United Church and made many good friends there. Many a Friday night she would bring home bulletins she had typed that needed to be folded and ready before Sunday Church service- you can guess what we kids were often doing that evening! We kids were probably the happiest of anyone when the church finally got an automatic folding machine to handle the bulletins.

She also was a long time member of the Cole Harbour Woodside United Church. For her many years there she served as an Elder, on the Finance Committee, UCW, Choir Member, and Hiring Selection Committee. She loved to sing and even in her final days would often be found humming a tune.

Mom was an avid baker and known for her cookies, muffins, special desserts, and her love of chocolate- preferably dark chocolate. She had a very special place in her heart for cats and birds.

In her retirement years she enjoyed being a member of Beta Sigma Phi Sorority. She was always willing to lend a helping hand to her family, friends, and strangers who then often became friends. Whether it was hosting Christmas or Easter dinner, birthdays, or babysitting one (or more) of her cherished grandchildren, Nanny’s door was always open with freshly baked goods and a pot of tea. We will miss you mom. You most definitely earned your Angel Wings.

In keeping with mom’s love of helping those in need (human, feline or birds), and in lieu of flowers, donations to either Bide Awhile Shelter or Feed Nova Scotia would be appreciated.

A private family graveside service will occur at a later date.