It is with a deep sadness that we announce the sudden, but peaceful passing of the matriarch of our family, Jean Townsend, on December 1, 2020.
Born January 20, 1930, in Sydney, Jean was the daughter of the late Marcus and Carrie (Pinhorn) Rowe.
Before COVID changed our lives, we were able to celebrate Mom’s 90th birthday in January, 2020. It was a special day for her where she was surrounded by the love of family and friends.
Mom was a lady who truly enjoyed every day of her life. She found joy in the smallest of things: a phone call, a card, a Sunday drive, a trip to the Dollarama, a lobster sandwich or a delicious corned beef and cabbage dinner. Her outlook was always positive. She spread kindness and generosity wherever she went, and she lived with a spirit of gratitude for each day granted to her.
As a young wife and mother, Jean was a member of St. Andrew’s Church in Sydney where she was active as a Sunday school teacher, CGIT leader and Explorer Leader. Jean and her family also spent many happy years camping at Ben Eoin campground.
She was an avid reader and life-long member of the Regional Library (we are certain she has read every murder mystery in the library!!). Jean loved to play bingo, most recently playing TV Bingo on Wednesday evenings. She faithfully followed her soap, “the Bold and the Beautiful” every week day from 2-3 p.m. In earlier days, she enjoyed discussing the daily happenings on the soaps with her best friend and sister-in-law, Theresa. Jean also loved to watch CNN and was always up-to-date on the latest antics in the American news. She enjoyed playing darts, and was a member of the Sergeant’s Mess Dart league for 65 years, sadly retiring from playing only in September because of the threat of COVID. Jean also enjoyed knitting and crocheting. Her beautiful handiwork has been gifted many times to family and friends. Mom loved going for drives, especially Sunday drives with Poppy and stopping to enjoy an ice cream along the way.
Jean is survived by her four children, Lynn (Gary) Bennett, Sydney, Allan (Julia), Sydney, Peter, Halifax and Susan, with whom she resided. She is also survived by three grandchildren, Jennifer (Mikel) Kelly, Halifax, Graham Townsend (Brittany Robinson), Oromocto, N.B. and Chelsea Bennett, Sydney; two great-grandchildren, Ayden Jean Kelly and Lucas Kelly, Halifax; as well as many nieces and nephews.
Mom is also survived by the many children she cared for over the years, who came to love her as their own grandmother, thus earning her the name, Nanny Jean.
Besides her parents, Jean was predeceased by her husband, Parker Townsend(2009) and her brother and sister-in-law, Donald and Theresa Rowe.
A private family service (by invite only) will be held at Sydney Memorial Chapel on Saturday, December 5, 2020, at 1 p.m. with Rev. Robert Lyle officiating. The service will be available to be viewed on Facebook Live by going to the Sydney Memorial Chapel facebook page. Following the service, visitation open to the public will be held from 2-4 p.m. Covid-19 guidelines of wearing masks and social distancing are mandatory. Interment will take place in Forest Haven Memorial Gardens at a later date.
The family would like to thank Dr. Greg Myatt and nurse, Janice Black for their wonderful care and kindness to our Mother over these many years.
Family flowers only please. Memorial donations may be made to our new Hospice unit (the Circle of Care Campaign) at www.hospicecapebreton.org
Words of comfort can be sent to the family at www.sydneymemorialchapel.ca or email to sydneymemorialchapel@ns.sympatico.ca.
“Sleep well Mom, your journey is done!”

2020
Nos plus sincères sympathies à la famille et aux amis de Jean Townsend 2020..

sydney memorial chapel

Décès pour la Ville: Sydney, Province: Nova Scotia

avis deces Jean Townsend 2020

avis mortuaire Jean Townsend 2020