Obituary for Verla M. Cowal (née Steele)
Verla M. Cowal (née Steele) passed away peacefully on Friday, February 24th, 2023 surrounded by her loved ones. Verla was 100 years old. She will be remembered as a very independent, outspoken, and outgoing person well-loved by her friends and family.
Verla was born in 1922 and spent her early years growing up in St. Catharines with her parents (Howard and Jessie Steele), three brothers (Arthur, Bernard, and Charles), and sister (Francis). They spent their summers together in Port Dalousie.
After school, Verla moved to Toronto and worked in her brother Arthur’s pharmacy. That is where she met her future husband.
She married George (Joseph) Cowal on a rainy day in June, 1951 and they went on to welcome two children, Brian (1956) and Catherine (1959). She raised her family in North York, working part time at Simpson’s for many years. She enjoyed bowling in a league with her neighbours.
In 1988, Brian and Cathy gifted Verla a cocker spaniel puppy for Christmas that she named Buffy. Buffy and Verla were an inseparable duo. She was even affectionately called Grandma “Buffy” by her grandchildren.
Verla (and Buffy) eventually left North York and moved to a condo in Mississauga, down the road from the hospital her daughter worked at. She lived over twenty years in her condo. Verla made many important friendships in the condo’s coffee club, always celebrating occasions together such as Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Valentine’s Day. They enjoyed summer barbecues and outings to the Casino. Verla hosted Scrabble nights along with wine and cheese parties.
Verla enjoyed travelling with her cousin Tricia Cronyn and friends. This included bus trips to Ottawa, Quebec City, and Washington D.C. as well as trips to the Caribbean and United Kingdom. She went on an Alaskan cruise in 2005 with Cathy’s mother-in-law, Mary Maganja. She and Tricia would enjoy summer trips to Muskoka as guests of her brother and sister-in-law, Chuck and Shirley Steele. Verla loved to capture the moment, carrying her camera bag everywhere she went. She was always willing to join in on an outing.
In 2019, Verla moved to LaSalle Park Retirement Community in Burlington. At first it was a difficult transition from such an independent lifestyle (she was driving a manual transmission car up until 2016). But, Verla, the social butterfly she was, adapted by making new connections and taking advantage of the available programs such as card bingo and trivia contests.
Verla celebrated her 100th birthday in the fall of 2022. She was the guest of honour at two parties, one with her LaSalle Park neighbours and one with many family members and friends. We celebrated her life, love, and friendship with lots of food, laughs, and line dancing.
Verla will be lovingly remembered by her brother, Charles Steele; sister-in-law, Barb Steele; children: Brian (Kim) Cowal and Cathy Cowal; grandchildren: Sharlene Ward, Stephanie Maganja (Michael), and Andrew Maganja (Emily); great-grandchildren: Lily, Emit, and Anna; and many other relatives and friends.
Verla was predeceased by her brother, Arthur Steele; sister, Fran Rundle; brother, Bernard Steele; sister-in-law, Shirley Steele; son-in-law, Matt Maganja; and her parents, Howard and Jessie Steele.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Friday, March 31st from 3:00 to 6:00 pm at Smith’s Funeral Home, Guelph Line Chapel, 1167 Guelph Line, Burlington. If you wish, please wear pink in honour of Verla (her favourite colour).
In lieu of flowers, our family requests donations be made to the Heart and Stroke Foundation.
Verla was born in 1922 and spent her early years growing up in St. Catharines with her parents (Howard and Jessie Steele), three brothers (Arthur, Bernard, and Charles), and sister (Francis). They spent their summers together in Port Dalousie.
After school, Verla moved to Toronto and worked in her brother Arthur’s pharmacy. That is where she met her future husband.
She married George (Joseph) Cowal on a rainy day in June, 1951 and they went on to welcome two children, Brian (1956) and Catherine (1959). She raised her family in North York, working part time at Simpson’s for many years. She enjoyed bowling in a league with her neighbours.
In 1988, Brian and Cathy gifted Verla a cocker spaniel puppy for Christmas that she named Buffy. Buffy and Verla were an inseparable duo. She was even affectionately called Grandma “Buffy” by her grandchildren.
Verla (and Buffy) eventually left North York and moved to a condo in Mississauga, down the road from the hospital her daughter worked at. She lived over twenty years in her condo. Verla made many important friendships in the condo’s coffee club, always celebrating occasions together such as Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Valentine’s Day. They enjoyed summer barbecues and outings to the Casino. Verla hosted Scrabble nights along with wine and cheese parties.
Verla enjoyed travelling with her cousin Tricia Cronyn and friends. This included bus trips to Ottawa, Quebec City, and Washington D.C. as well as trips to the Caribbean and United Kingdom. She went on an Alaskan cruise in 2005 with Cathy’s mother-in-law, Mary Maganja. She and Tricia would enjoy summer trips to Muskoka as guests of her brother and sister-in-law, Chuck and Shirley Steele. Verla loved to capture the moment, carrying her camera bag everywhere she went. She was always willing to join in on an outing.
In 2019, Verla moved to LaSalle Park Retirement Community in Burlington. At first it was a difficult transition from such an independent lifestyle (she was driving a manual transmission car up until 2016). But, Verla, the social butterfly she was, adapted by making new connections and taking advantage of the available programs such as card bingo and trivia contests.
Verla celebrated her 100th birthday in the fall of 2022. She was the guest of honour at two parties, one with her LaSalle Park neighbours and one with many family members and friends. We celebrated her life, love, and friendship with lots of food, laughs, and line dancing.
Verla will be lovingly remembered by her brother, Charles Steele; sister-in-law, Barb Steele; children: Brian (Kim) Cowal and Cathy Cowal; grandchildren: Sharlene Ward, Stephanie Maganja (Michael), and Andrew Maganja (Emily); great-grandchildren: Lily, Emit, and Anna; and many other relatives and friends.
Verla was predeceased by her brother, Arthur Steele; sister, Fran Rundle; brother, Bernard Steele; sister-in-law, Shirley Steele; son-in-law, Matt Maganja; and her parents, Howard and Jessie Steele.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Friday, March 31st from 3:00 to 6:00 pm at Smith’s Funeral Home, Guelph Line Chapel, 1167 Guelph Line, Burlington. If you wish, please wear pink in honour of Verla (her favourite colour).
In lieu of flowers, our family requests donations be made to the Heart and Stroke Foundation.