Eileen was born on the farm at Young, SK, the oldest child of Bill and Christine (Graham) Rowan. She had twin siblings, Larry and Sheila, about 2 ½ years younger than herself. The family moved into the town of Young when Eileen was about 10 years old, where her dad owned the John Deere dealership. They moved to Plenty when Eileen was in Grade 10 to operate the hotel and Eileen remembered all the cleaning and laundry involved.
In 1955, the family moved to Saskatoon and lived on Avenue A (now Idylwyld Drive) where Eileen went to the nearby Teachers’ College. Over the years, she went on to gain her B.A. and B.Ed. degrees.
After teaching at multi-grade rural schools in the Lestock and Wilkie areas, Eileen joined the Sisters of Mission Service (SMS) in 1958. She spent 14 years within that community, forging lifelong friendships during that period. After leaving the SMS, Eileen moved to Regina, where she worked in the public school system for seven years, before returning to Saskatoon.
In 1982, she married Lawrence Thoner and began a lifelong partnership that involved participation in a large variety of church activities, including many years playing the pipe organ at St. Paul’s Co-Cathedral and as music leader for the diocesan Lay Formation program.
Eileen and Lawrence were also deeply involved in welcoming refugees and immigrants to Saskatoon, on their own and through their involvement with Global Gathering Place. They made a great many lasting friendships in that way.
In her later years, Eileen developed dementia and spent the last year of her life at Oliver Lodge nursing home. The family wishes to thank Dr. Jennifer Wood, and the staff at Oliver Lodge for the care they provided, especially in her final days.
Eileen was predeceased by her parents, her sister Sheila, and nephew Greg Rowan. She is survived by her loving husband Lawrence, her brother Larry (Elaine) Rowan, and nephews Doug Rowan and Matthew Rowan.
Anyone wishing to honor Eileen’s memory is invited to make a donation to The Global Gathering Place (globalgatheringplace.com) in recognition of her many years of volunteer service there.
The service will be livestreamed at www.stphilipneriparish.ca.
