Obituary of Mary Anne Joan (Wellum) Howden

Age 88, of Falmouth, formerly of Bridgetown, passed away peacefully and went to be with her Lord on Thursday, March 30th, 2023 in the Windsor Elms Village, Falmouth. Born in Kitchener, Ontario on April 1, 1934, she was the daughter of the late George and Isabella (McDougal) Wellum. Her mother and father died at an early age and she and her brothers were raised in an orphanage in Kitchener, Ontario.

Jo married her husband at the age of 21 and went on to have four children. She worked at Smith-McNaughton as an Insurance adjuster. After moving to Bridgetown in 1981 she became the town of Bridgetown’s coordinator and coordinated many events for Bridgetown and surrounding area. Jo had a true genius for interior design. Even though she never had a job in interior design she helped many people get their homes ready for selling. She also loved helping her sons and daughters design in their homes as well. In 2008 she was admitted to the hospital for dementia. She went from there to Mountain Lea Lodge nursing home in Bridgetown for three weeks, and finally, being placed in the Windsor Elms Village, in order to be closer to her daughters.

In many ways our mother had a childlike zest for life. She was a practical joker who pulled many pranks on her friends and children. She loved music and often sang to her children. She was trained as a young girl in opera. If you were a friend or family, she would do anything for you often at a detriment to her health. She loved fiercely and gave of herself completely.

Jo will be lovingly remembered and missed by her children, Scott (Sharon), Ottawa, Ontario; Todd (Carol Anne), South Carolina, USA; Heather McAndrew, Hantsport; Tracey (Peter) Johnston, Hantsport; 12 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren; sisters-in-law, Joan and Mary Wellum.

Besides her parents, Jo was predeceased by her brothers, Colin (Joan), George (Rosie) and Bruce Wellum; grandson, Jacob Thomas Doucet and son-in-law, Darrell McAndrew.

She will be sorely missed but it is a comfort knowing she is now at home with her Lord Jesus.

“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: 
And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish,
neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.”

Arrangements for cremation have been entrusted to DeMont Family Funeral Home & Cremation Service, 419 Albert St., Windsor (902-798-8317). A private family burial will be held at a later date in Riverbank Cemetery, Hantsport followed by a private family Celebration of Life in the Hantsport Fire Department. In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Jo may be sent to Windsor Elms Village, 174 Dyke Rd., Falmouth, NS B0P 1P0. Messages of condolence may be sent to the family by visiting: www.demontfamilyfuneralhome.ca