Obituary of Linda May Cooke

Linda May Cooke (nee Rowsell) died after a short battle with cancer. She is predeceased by her husband Alphonsus; her parents Arch and Lucy Rowsell; sisters Stella Rowsell and Betty Bursey; and brother Melvin. She leaves behind her son Robert (Lorie); grand-daughters Victoria and Hailey; sisters Nancy Earle, Nellie (Clarence) Guy, Alva (Terry) Williams; brother Nelson (Fanny) Rowsell; and in-laws Julie (Kevin) Peddle, Jim (Carolyn) Cooke, Mike (Dianese) Cooke, Joe (Audrey) Cooke, Ellen (George) Barnes, and Marie (Melvin) Rowsell, along with many cousins, nieces, and nephews.

Linda was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis when she was only six years old. The disease, several major surgeries, and experimental drugs severely limited her mobility and left her with many emotional and psychological scars. This never kept Linda from living her life. Her determination, bordering on stubbornness, saw her defy doctor’s expectations over and over again. They told her she would never walk, yet she walked into her 70’s. They told her that she would never have children, yet she gave birth to and raised her son Robert, who grew up to be an Anglican Priest and theologian, marrying his wife Lorie and blessing Linda with two grand- daughters, Victoria and Hailey. They told she would not live to be old, yet she died just three days after her 76th birthday.
A big part of how she coped with so much suffering in her life was her deep faith. To her, God was as close as her breath and Jesus Christ was her saviour and friend. Anyone visiting Linda would often see her bible open in her lap. She was never shy about sharing her faith with an evangelist’s enthusiasm, even if you didn’t want to hear it. One of her last prayers was to be reunited with her husband Fonce. This hope saw her through to her last breath. After a life of suffering, she is at peace. As she was welcomed by God in grace, she is now surrounded by light and love, where there is no more pain, no more loss.

Many thanks are extended to the nurses and staff at Unit A of the Dr. Hugh Twomey Health Centre, especially her social worker Neysa Sheppard-Decker and her doctor at the end, Dr. Railene Kirby, for such compassionate care. Thank you as well to the fantastic staff at Islandside Manor in Leading Tickles, where Linda resided after the death of her husband in 2017. Also, thank you to Aunt Nancy and Aunt Julie for their faithfulness, kindness, and patience in visiting Linda over the past five years.

Cremation has taken place. A private family gathering will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, and in keeping with Linda's generous spirit, donations to honor her can be made to a charity of your own choosing.