Buella Fowler

Buella Jane Fowler (nee Maxwell) was born in Souris, Manitoba on March 27, 1943. She grew up in Moline, Brandon, and Virden, Manitoba. The youngest of four sisters, Verna (Gallant), Ila (Underhill), and late Greta (Bridgeman), Bue was a precocious child with endless curiosity, lots of energy, a knack for mischief, and a talent for getting away with it. Most of the time.

Sociable, sharp, and full of initiative, Buella’s passion for community were fully formed by high school in Virden where she was greatly involved in the church choir, Girl Guides, youth group, teaching Sunday school, and starting a cheerleading squad for the football team. That life-long love of music and sports was soon matched by another. One handsome young fellow stood out of the crowd. It was obvious to everyone. Doug and Bue captured each other’s hearts. After a stint at the CIBC in Virden, the nomad in Buella saw her work at a hotel in Bermuda, and writing copy for TV and radio in Calgary (where she was also a cheerleader for the Stampeders) and Brandon. At last, Doug’s undeterred proposals were accepted. They were married for 57 years.

With the very lean and happy days in Grand Forks behind them while Doug finished university, they moved first to Shilo and then to Russell, Manitoba where they lived for the next 31 years, raising their son Kent and daughter Aujah.

Buella worked for many years at the CIBC in Russell. Many a future bank manager found themselves ‘trained up’ by the veteran staff at that branch. But it was her tireless volunteering in the church, community, and for charity that many will remember.

A special year in Australia and retirement to her beloved Riding Mountain with Doug followed their departure from Russell. After Doug retired from teaching, they moved from the quiet of the lake to Brandon and then Winnipeg to be closer to family. Family was the core of Buella’s life. She relished her status early on as ‘Aunt Bue’ to her nieces and nephews, and then their children. She was later an adoring Nana to Erika, Halla, Carter and Sydney, and passed to them her joy for life all wrapped up in a serious sense of style. It was a rare and curious thing if Nana and Papa missed a game, recital, or concert. She cherished and was so proud of her ‘Grandbabies.’

Buella deplored formality and stuffiness. But she was never one to turn down a stay a posh hotel, eating at a great restaurant, or taking in a high tea, all for the fun of it. She firmly believed the best inheritance was special memories, not stuff and things.

Buella was always searching for new experiences and new challenges. She was a seeker and an explorer, both in the words of others and in travel. Across Europe, Africa, Australia, the US and Canada, Buella and Doug saw much of the world together. She always pushed against the comfortable edges of her life. Whether passing all her insurance exams the first time at 53 when pursuing a career change, or taking her first university course at 80, Buella’s pursuit of trying something new, feeding her curiosity, and bettering herself never relented.

Be kind. Be brave. Fill your life with joy. Live your dreams. Everything else will follow.

For those gifts, we will remember her always.

Buella passed away October 25, 2023 in Winnipeg, Manitoba at Grace Hospital. She is survived by her husband Doug, their son Kent Fowler (Karen) and daughter Aujah Fowler-Thomas (Kevin Thomas), grandchildren Erika and Halla Fowler and Carter and Sydney Thomas, sisters Verna and Ila, and many nieces, nephews, and their families.

The family sincerely thanks the doctors, nurses and staff at Grace Hospital for the professional, compassionate care Buella received.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Grace Hospital Foundation, the St. Boniface Hospital Foundation (Cardiac Care), or the CancerCare Manitoba Foundation.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.thomsoninthepark.com for the Fowler family.