Heather Margaret Dowse

DOWSE, Heather Margaret

We are sad to announce the death of our mother Heather Margaret Dowse, wife of the late Dr. David Dowse, on April 4, 2024, following a stroke. Heather was born in Dublin, Ireland, on March 26, 1938, daughter of the late Canon Robert L. and Mrs. Marion R. (Kennedy) Stuart.

She was educated at Alexandra School, Dublin, and St. Cyprian’s School, Cape Town, South Africa, where the family lived from 1951-1955. She later attended The Dublin School of Physiotherapy at Trinity College, Dublin University, graduating in 1959. She continued her career in physiotherapy in Dublin and London, England. She married David Dowse in 1962. In 1972, with their three children, they emigrated to Mahone Bay, Nova Scotia. A fourth child was born in 1973. Heather subsequently returned to her career in physiotherapy at the Lunenburg Co. Veterans’ Unit. She was a member of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapists and the Canadian Physiotherapy Association. Besides her husband and parents, she is predeceased by her twin brother, Robert.

While raising her young family, she was very involved in supporting children’s activities in the community. After retirement, she spent many years as caregiver to her husband and later volunteered with Alzheimer patients. She was a faithful member of St. James Anglican Church, Mahone Bay.

She is survived by children Suzanne (Andrew Ager), Martin, Rosalie, and Peter (Susan Himmelman), grandchildren Clare, Alexa, Madison, David, Sam, Owen, William, and Norah, niece Christine (Neil Barr), great nephews Jeremy and Simon, sister-in-law Lotti, and cousins in England and Ireland.

She enjoyed gardening, Tai Chi, and classical music, and was a cold plunging pioneer, until recent years swimming in the North Atlantic Ocean from June to October. With a voice that never exceeded 30 decibels, she had a laugh that spanned three octaves. Although she experienced significant health challenges in her last years, she continued to find pleasure in maintaining her routine overseeing the management of her house and garden. We would like to thank Heather Cruikshank, Nancy McCarthy, Melissa Glazer, and the caregivers from NSHA Home Care whose work and companionship made it possible for her to remain at home. We would also like to thank Linda Cox and Carla Tanner, nurses at Fisherman’s Ambulatory Care, her physician Dr. Jenkins, and the staff at the Halifax Infirmary Unit 3IMCU.

The funeral will take place at St. James Anglican Church, 65 Edgewater St., Mahone Bay on Tuesday, April 9 at 2:00 p.m. with visitation at Mahone Funeral Home, 32 Parish St., on Monday evening, April 8 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alzheimer Society of Nova Scotia or the Mahone Islands Conservation Association.

Arrangements entrusted to the care of Mahone Funeral Home, P.O. Box 200, 32 Parish St., Mahone Bay, NS B0J 2E0 (902-624-8241). Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting: www.mahonefuneral.ca