CECELIA (CECILE) KOWALL

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CECELIA (CECILE) KOWALL

(nee POLLOCK)

Cecile passed away peacefully on June 3, 2026 at Deer Lodge Centre after living several years with dementia. She was 91.

She is lovingly remembered by her devoted children: Pamela (Gary Brooker), Paul (DD), Feryn, Sheri (Robbie Weisz); her grandchildren: Alana (Matthew Joudrey), Ivy, Rachel, Sarah (Roman Dascal), Lainey, Nayce and Sienna; sister-in-law Lynn Pollock and numerous nieces, nephews and friends. She was predeceased by her beloved husband of almost 68 years, Monte Kowall, parents Sam and Sluva Pollock, and older siblings Myra (Hy) Kravetsky, Mischa, Gordon (Mimi) and Harvey (Sylvia) Pollock, brother-in-law and sister-in-law Bernard and Louise Kowall.

Cecile was born in Winnipeg but lived in Bethany, MB until she was nine. Her family then moved back to Winnipeg where she attended Machray School, St. John’s Tech and United College. She met our dad in 1954 and they married in 1956. They had a very close and loving relationship until Dad passed in 2024.

After they were married, Mom and Dad lived in Boston while Dad was doing his fellowship in pediatrics. After two years they moved back to Winnipeg and settled in River Heights. In later years Mom and Dad also lived in Winnipeg Beach and Margate, FL. Once their health started to decline they moved back to Winnipeg so they could be closer to family. During the last several years of her life Mom developed dementia and eventually could not be cared for at home.

Mom was strong, kind, caring and nurturing. She was a great wife, mother and grandmother. Family was very important to her. She was well respected and loved by all of her extended family and anyone who knew her.

She excelled at everything she did. It was said she could make “a silk purse out of a sow’s ear”. She was a multi-talented woman. She loved surrounding herself in nature, berry picking, sewing, baking (especially pies), volunteering and travelling. She and Dad had many friends and loved to entertain. Once the children were in school, she worked in retail sales at The Bay, Shirley K Maternity and World Adventure Tours, among others. Mom was deeply involved in the Jewish community and was an active participant on the Herzlia Synagogue Board and PTA in its early years.

We would like to thank the staff on T3W and T3N at the Deer Lodge Centre for caring for Mom with dignity and respect over the last two years and two months.

Funeral services were held on June 7, 2026 at the Shaarey Zedek Cemetery.

Donations in Cecile’s memory may be made to the Monte and Cecile Kowall Fund at the Jewish Foundation of Manitoba, to the Alzheimer Society of Manitoba or to a charity of your choice.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jun 27, 2026