Jean Ellen Innes

Sadly, Jean Innes (nee Coppock) of Edmonton passed away on February 21, 2026.

Jean was born and raised in the small town of Maidstone, Saskatchewan. She was the first girl and third child born in a family of seven children to Teresa and Jack Coppock. She was predeceased by her parents, two older brothers, Keith and John, and her younger sister, Darlene.

Jean attended school in Maidstone and after completing regular school there, she entered a four year basic nursing program in Ponoka, Alberta and then began a career in psychiatric nursing. After she achieved two years' experience as a head nurse, she moved to the United States, working in Kansas, Michigan, and Hawaii. Not content in her practice area, she returned to Canada and attended McGill University in Montreal from 1962-1964 and completed a Bachelor's Degree in Nursing. Following this study period, she was invited to join an international team of nursing personnel to develop a Teaching Diploma Program in Nursing at the University of Ghana to prepare Ghanaians to teach nursing in their own country. This program was a project of the World Health Organization under the leadership of Dr. Rae Chittick. This experience broadened Jean's nursing knowledge and outlook on international health considerably and, in 1967, convinced her to pursue a Master's Degree at Boston University in Public Health Nursing, a decision she never regretted at any time in her nursing career.

In September of 1968, Jean joined the Faculty of Nursing at the University of Saskatchewan where she remained until 1986. During that period, she became a full Professor of Nursing. Along with her teaching responsibilities at the U of S, she continued to pursue international study leaves with the World Health Organization and developed public health nursing studies in Iceland at the baccalaureate level. Jean also served two terms with the Canadian Nurses Association Board under the education portfolio. Jean's national and international experience allowed her to pursue interests in Primary Health Care and play a role in developing entry to practice educational initiatives for Canadian basic nursing students.

In the fall of 1986, Jean was recruited to the Faculty of Nursing at the University of Alberta - a position she held until retirement in May 1993. Jean was a pioneer in her profession, teaching and advocating for the best health care locally and internationally. She was passionate in ensuring her nursing students were well equipped to meet the demands of nursing in knowledgeable, compassionate, and caring ways. Later on as a volunteer, her focus was as an advocate and voice for seniors to ensure their level of health care did not diminish or get lost in the system as her last commitment was to serve two terms as Chairperson of the Edmonton Seniors Coordinating Council and she sat on many community board councils - all related to bettering the health and social outcomes for seniors. For her participation in volunteering, she received two honorary lifetime memberships and three other awards, including a Paul Harris Fellowship Award, a Sage Award, and a Minister's Seniors Service Award. Jean was very devoted to her career and her input and talents will be deeply missed.

Jean felt fortunate to travel to many countries either on professional assignments or for pleasure, but she had great love for her country, particularly the western provinces. She always felt fortunate to return to Canada.

In spite of Jean's hectic schedules in pursuit of her academic, professional, and volunteer duties, Jean found time to relax and enjoy the raising of two dogs: the first "Buffie" and the second "Halley". Her dogs were one of the true joys of her life and were great for her own health promotion.

Jean will be sadly missed by all those who knew her including her community support colleagues, her senior friends, and nursing colleagues. She was a very special person who was loved deeply by those whom she shared her life.

Lastly, she will be dearly missed by her sister Francis, her two brothers Dean and Dalton, nieces and nephew Debra, Patti, Dawn, Karen, Megan, John, Kristel, Tanya, and Sarah, her dear cousin Cheryl, and her sister-in-law Merla.

Jean was ever grateful to Dr. J. Caulfield for her continued excellent medical care and the staff at the MacEwan University Health Center for their support during her aging process.

If friends so desire, donations in memory of Jean can be made to: The Educational Trust Fund of the Nurses Association in Edmonton or to the Calgary Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association.