HELEN AILEEN "LEE" COWAN

1926 - 2024

(née Hooper) 1926 - 2024 Aileen died peacefully, at the Donway Place on December 3, 2024, at the age of 98. A loving daughter, wife, friend, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, Aileen is survived by three children of whom she was immensely proud, Dr. Sandra Cowan, Jill Cowan (Jim), and David Cowan (Sharon); her grandchildren, Jessica (Samir), Ben (Allie), Jules (Brad), Kristen (Mike), Ryan (Renee), and Radford (Christina); and great-grandchildren, Leela, Jack, Sophie, Sam, George, Miles, Noah, Jackson, Hunter, Maddox and Wilder. Aileen was predeceased by her cherished parents, Mary Aileen Welsh and Dr. Arthur G. Hooper; her beloved husband of 57 years, John J. Cowan; and special friend, Allan Harkness. Aileen was born on June 11, 1926, in Windsor, ON. She spent her formative years in Toronto, where she studied at Havergal College and the University of Toronto from which she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree. She undertook graduate work at the University of Toronto and Queen's University. Decades ahead of her time and possessing a fiercely independent spirit, Aileen blazed her own trail as a woman and an artist. She studied sculpture techniques – metal welding and bronze casting, as well as drawing and painting at the Ontario College of Art in Toronto. She was elected to the Sculptors' Society of Canada in 1970 and served as president from 1983-1985. Her work is included in private collections in Toronto, New York, Athens, and Mexico City; and in public collections in London and Oshawa. As an art specialist, she taught at both the secondary and university levels. Following her marriage to John J. Cowan in 1948, they raised three children in Toronto, spending countless summers as a family at Oxbow Lake in Muskoka. John and Aileen had an incredibly close circle of friends and shared a passion for travelling and volunteering, both in Canada and internationally with CESO. Their grandchildren benefited greatly from this in the form of postcards from around the world. Her family will always be grateful for the incredible care that Aileen received over the past weeks, months and years. A very special thank you to the Donway Staff (especially Lynn); St. Elizabeth Healthcare (especially Anar, Gwen, Janice, and Carol); ComforCare (especially Naomi); long-time family physician, Dr. Evelyn Baimel; and Dr. Arvenitis from the Temmy Latner Centre for Palliative Care. A visitation will be held on Friday, December 13th, from 10 to 11 a.m. Funeral service (and reception) to follow at 11 a.m. Both at Morley Bedford Funeral Home, 159 Eglinton Ave. W., Toronto. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Temmy Latner Centre for Palliative Care or the Canadian Cancer Society would be appreciated.