BOWER, Harry Melvin ^{3 4 5}

   Cause of his death was chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

  Facts and details for Harry Melvin Bower:

• He lived at 109 Ossington Ave. In Ottawa, Carleton, Ontario, Canada from 1926 to 1951. ⁹

• He worked as a Chief Securities Officer from 1943 to 1986 in Ottawa, Carleton, Ontario, Canada. ¹⁰ This position was with the Farm Credit Corporation (formerly the Farm Loan Board), a federal government Crown Corporation.

• He lived at 1966 Eastlane Road in Ottawa, Carleton, Ontario, Canada from 1951 to 1954. ^{11 12} On 7 Sep 1950 it was reported that he was granted a building permit for the construction of a residence on Eastlane with a value of $8,000.

• He lived at 1299 Brookline Avenue in Ottawa, Carleton, Ontario, Canada from 1954 to 2002. ^{13 14 15 16}

• He lived at 1705 Playfair Drive in Ottawa, Carleton, Ontario, Canada from 2002 to 2005.

• His obituary was published in the Ottawa Citizen on 10 Mar 2005 in Ottawa, Carleton, Ontario, Canada. It read as follows:

In hospital surrounded by his family on Tuesday, March 8, 2005 in his 79th year. Predeceased by his first wife Aldéa Charbonneau. Cherished husband of his second wife Luella Lee. Beloved father of Wayne (Laurie) and Bruce (Kelly). Loving grandfather of Kate, David, Jessie and Cayce. Dear brother of Norma (Chuck Hall). Harry retired as Chief Securities Officer in 1986 after 43 years with the Farm Credit Corp. Special thanks to the I.C.U. doctors and nurses at the Ottawa Hospital General Campus for their exceptional care and compassion. Friends may pay respects at the Kelly Funeral Home, 1255 Walkley Road (east of Bank), Friday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Funeral Service Saturday in the Chapel at 2 p.m. Interment Capital Memorial Gardens. In memoriam, donations to the Lung Association appreciated. ¹⁰

• He was buried at the Capital Memorial Gardens in Ottawa, Carleton, Ontario, Canada on 12 Mar 2005. He is buried at Capital Memorial Gardens in the Garden of the Apostles, Lot 10, grave C1.

• His funeral was held on 12 Mar 2005. The following eulogies were given at his funeral:

By Laurie McBurney:

I know what Harry would say if he looked around to see you all here today "Holy Dinah". And then he would make sure you all had the drink you wanted, just the way you wanted it prepared. He was never so happy as when he was playing host. So many of you have mentioned the wonderful parties at "Harry's Bar" in the basement at 1299 Brookline. Remember the pickled eggs in the big jar on the bar? Remember the funny signs on the wall? I'll never forget my son David, when he just learned to read, slowly sounding out the message on one of those sign: "Old golfers never die, they just loose their balls." Then turning to me, "what does that mean, Mom?"

Harry liked nothing better than cooking a meal for you which featured fresh vegetables from his garden. That garden was truly a labour of love. I can still see him there, dressed only in jean shorts, brown as a berry, hoeing or fertelizing or weeding. He was generous with his bounty. If you ate dinner at Harry and Luella's, you'd always hear "help yourself, don't be shy."

He was generous in many other ways, too. He decided several years ago that he wanted his grandchildren, two in BC and two in Ottawa, to get to know each other. So he flew all of us to California, to see Disneyland, the San Diego Zoo and Knott's Berry Farm, all on his tab. I know how many special memories my kids have of that time and we do too.

In closing, I'd like to leave you with this poem written by C.M. Frederick on the death of her father.

A Few Thoughts
By C. M. Frederick
What is a man?
Perhaps a brother, a husband, a father.
Always a son.
He is a place as much as a person.
He is the home.
He is precious in that he need not have been born at all, yet was.
Above all he is a life.
And as a life he must pass from our world.
This life was his gift to all of us, so may we remember it well.

Holy Dinah, we'll miss you Harry.


By Kate Bower:

My grandfather, Harry Bower, was a man that was patient, committed, proud and strong. My hope is that someday, I am able to embody these same characteristics to the degree that he has throughout his life.

Patience is a characteristic that my grandfather has carried with him on a consistent basis, even through the toughest of times. From spending six hours on making egg rolls from scratch with his granddaughter to dealing with a sickness that slowly decreased his quality of life, my grandfather continually rolled with the punches and never became impatient with what life threw his way. My grandfather never complained about his condition either. I think we're all guilty at one time or another of making a mountain out of a molehill. But my grandfather was never guilty of this and continually remained positive about life. I remember one time organizing a dinner at a restaurant for my parents' anniversary. I, unfortunately, failed to take into account how accessible the restaurant was for my grandfather. He, however, never said a word about walking up the slippery steps to the front door or climbing up the steep steps to the washroom. He just enjoyed his time with his family and never burdened anyone with his problems or complaints.

My grandfather was a very committed man. He was a loving husband to my Nanna for 27 wonderful years and he worked at the same company '96 Farm Credit Corporation for 43 years. 43 years?!? I have been working for the same company for six months and I already want to get out of there! But from the sounds of things, Farm Credit was a great company for which to work and my grandfather's commitment to the company allowed him to work his way through the ranks, from a file clerk at the beginning of his career to chief securities officer upon retirement.

Grandpa was very proud of his family. But then again, with such a good-looking family, how could he resist? Grandpa's eyes always lit up when he experienced moments of pride. I frequently saw this glow in his eyes when he attended my piano recitals. I'm sure my cousins, Jesse and Cayce, saw this glow when he attended their baseball games or my brother, David, saw it when Grandpa attended his hockey games. The look of pride in his eyes always pushed me to do the best that I could, and provided me with the belief that I would always be supported. I remember one time when I began my short and somewhat unsuccessful career in modelling. I was given the opportunity to grace the covers of the local Giant Tiger flyer. Well, not the cover, I was more hidden in the middle of the flyer somewhere. But regardless of where I was, my grandfather gathered about ten copies of the flyer and had me autograph each one. He then gave them out to friends and family. So while my friends were laughing at my appearance in a Giant Tiger flyer, my grandfather was so proud. This pride made me feel more comfortable and confident about this experience.

Finally, my grandfather was a strong man. He had a strong mind that allowed him to remember the smallest of details. He always knew where to send Nanna for the best deals, even if it meant going to five different stores for the weekly groceries. He also had a very strong heart. A heart that not only defied doctors' expectations of his survival but a heart that made him a loving husband, brother, father, grandfather and friend.

Grandpa, I will always remember you for your patience, commitment, pride and strength. I will also remember your famous carrots from your garden, as well as your sayings "Holy Dina" and "Don't be shy, eat some more". It will be hard without you, but I know you will always be watching over me and everyone close to your heart.

Goodbye Grandpa.

Harry married Aldéa Juliette CHARBONNEAU, daughter of Joseph "Adélard" Théodore CHARBONNEAU and Marie Cordelina "Evélina" DUSSIAUME, on 16 Apr 1951 in Ottawa, Carleton, Ontario, Canada.^{1 2} (Aldéa Juliette CHARBONNEAU was born on 9 Jan 1926 in Eastview (now Ottawa), Carleton, Ontario, Canada ^{17 18 19}, baptized on 10 Jan 1926 in Eastview (now Ottawa), Carleton, Ontario, Canada,¹⁹ died on 27 Oct 1982 in Ottawa, Carleton, Ontario, Canada ^{20 21} and was cremated on 2 Nov 1982 in Ottawa, Carleton, Ontario, Canada ^{20 21}.). The cause of her death was lung cancer.

  Marriage Notes:

The original marriage on 16 April 1951 took place at the groom's home at 109 Ossington Ave. It was performed by Rev. George D. Campbell who was the minister at Southminster United Church. The witnesses were Charles E. and Norma J. Hall, the groom's sister and brother-in-law.

They were remarried at Immaculate Heart of Mary Roman Catholic Church on October 19 1954. This was done in order to allow their children to be baptized in the Roman Catholic Church and to attend French Separate School.

The marriage ended in divorce on the 20 December 1976.
²

Harry next married Luella Doreen LEE, daughter of William Clement LEE and Jennie CLAY, on 16 Jul 1977 in Regina, Division 6, Saskatchewan, Canada. (Luella Doreen LEE was born on 24 May 1933 in Doonside, Division 1, Saskatchewan, Canada,^{22 23} died on 21 Dec 2009 in Ottawa, Carleton, Ontario, Canada ²² and was buried on 29 Dec 2009 in Ottawa, Carleton, Ontario, Canada ^{22 24}.). The cause of her death was liver cancer.

  Marriage Notes:

They were married at Westminster United Church by Rev. Chris T. Mills. The witnesses were Wayne Bower and Margery Keegan. Margery's daughter Brenda was Luella's maid of honour. Brenda was not able to sign as a witness because she had not attained the age of majority.