Alice Marie Gossen

Alice Marie Gossen, 89, of Halifax, Nova Scotia, passed away on January 27, 2022. Alice lived for her family, and was cherished by her husband, children, and grandchildren. The last of her siblings, Alice was a formidable woman with resounding beliefs and amazing strength. Alice was predeceased by her parents Elias and Youssfieh (Salah) Arab and her husband of 59 years, Elias Anthony Gossen. She was also predeceased by her siblings Jamile (Gibran) Ramia, Youssef Arab, Kowcab (Antonios) Ghosn, and Anne (Saide) Saade. Left to mourn are her loving children, Anthony and David (Jill), and her grandchildren, Trevor, Spencer, Elias, and Angela. Also left to mourn are her many loving nieces and nephews, her sister-in-law Marguarita “Margo”Arab, and her extended family and friends.

Born in Diman, Lebanon, Alice’s father passed away when she was a young child. She came to Halifax at the age of 19 with her mother Youssfieh and her siblings Youssef and Anne in November 1951. Although unfamiliar with the culture and language, her ingrained intellectual curiosity, and desire to understand the world around her on a deeper level, ensured she was able to quickly learn English and everything else that was needed to succeed in her new environment. She soon went to work at Murphy’s, where she was paid not by an hourly wage, but based on her production. From there she became a switchboard operator at Saint Mary’s University. In these jobs, and throughout her life, she worked hard to support her family. She also endeavored with her mother Youssfieh, her brother Youssef and her sister Anne to bring their siblings Kowcab, and later Jamile, to Halifax. This concern for the wellbeing of her larger family continued throughout her life, and she cared deeply for her nieces and nephews.

After marrying Elias in 1959, they embarked on a new adventure together to Elias’s adopted homeland, Colombia (South America). However, she missed her family, and given her desire to raise their children in Canada, they returned to Halifax. Truly a woman before her time, Alice worked tirelessly with Elias and, together, they ran a successful business. With a strong faith in God, she always put her family before herself ensuring they wanted for nothing, including love. Alice’s work ethic was astounding, and she rarely took time off from their business (Jo-El Dry Cleaners), except to spend time with family. She worked well beyond typical retirement years and was proud of her ability to do so.

Alice was incredibly strong willed, resilient, and astute with great foresight; she always had a plan and followed it through. Although she struggled with mobility issues later in life, Alice maintained her dignity and continued to persevere solely on her amazing will. Alice will be lovingly missed and never forgotten by her family and friends. Visitation will be held at J.A. Snow Funeral Home, 339 Lacewood Drive, on Monday, January 31, from 5-6 p.m. and 7-8 p.m. To RSVP, please call 902-455-0531. A private funeral mass will be held at 11:00 am Tuesday, February 1 at Our Lady of Lebanon Maronite Catholic Church. The service will be livestreamed for those wishing to watch from home. The link will be available on the funeral home website. Proof of double vaccination and government issued ID are required to attend both the visitation and service. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Our Lady of Lebanon Church.