Alexander Masson Cowie

Alexander Masson Cowie of London, Ontario, passed away on Nov. 29, 2024, at the Parkwood Veterans’ Western Counties, where he enjoyed the past three years playing bocce ball, shuffleboard, bingo, and joking around.

It was fitting that he was able to spend this time at a place that was very special throughout his life. He worked on the same grounds for 40 years back when it was called Westminster Hospital.

Al—or Pop, as his family knows him—was a fun-loving, humble, and generous man whose greatest joy was being a kid again with his 54 nieces and nephews, all the kids in the neighbourhood, and especially with his two granddaughters and five great-grandchildren.

As a young man in Burnaby, B.C., he enlisted in the Army and served with the Seaforth Highlanders as part of the Italian Campaign in WWII. He was badly wounded in Apeldoorn, Netherlands. By chance, he was sent not home, but to London, Ont., to recuperate. That’s where he met the love of his life, Mae Mason, who was the head of the Westminster Hospital cafeteria. They were married on December 14, 1946, in a small house on the hospital grounds.

They built their home, traveled the world, and drove their motorhome across the country together for 63 years before Mae passed away in 2008.

His goal was to make it to his 100th birthday to receive his congratulatory letter from the Queen. He outlasted even her but was pleased to receive an almost-as-good congratulatory letter from King Charles when he turned 100 in July.

Al was so many things to so many people—a jokester, a handyman, and a hopeless romantic. He was, above all, an outstanding father, a dream grandfather, and great-grandfather, and an inspiration to anyone who had the pleasure of knowing his friendship.

He will be immensely missed by his pride and joy, his only child, Janice Finlay (Ron) of London, and his adoring granddaughters, Melanie Dalton (Scott) of Brisbane, Australia, and Melinda Dalton (Marc) of Montreal. His sparkle and sense of humor will also be missed but never forgotten by his great-grandchildren, Alexandra, Luna, and Christopher Bolland in Australia, and Alistair and Dashiell Champoux in Montreal. His memory especially lives on in his two namesakes, Alexandra and “Little Al” Alistair. Ron’s brother, Bill Finlay, was also one of Al’s treasured friends and adopted family.Al is predeceased by his Burnaby siblings and spouses, including Walter (Irma) Cowie, Peter (Karen) Cowie, and Doris (Jim) MacLean. Also by in-laws Archie Mason, Jim Mason, Albert (Pearl) Mason, Elmer (Eleanor) Mason, and sister-in-law Kay (Jack Cook) Buchanan. Surviving sisters-in-law are Nellie Mason and Erma Mason of Blyth.

Janice and his family would like to express their sincere appreciation for the care provided by the staff and volunteers at Parkwood Hospital and the company of the residents and friends on the 3rd floor.

Al never wanted a funeral; it was all too sad and formal. Instead, he would love it if you could spend time showing your children you love them, enjoying a beer in his honour, eating way too much ice cream, and appreciating the sunrise and sunset.

If you would like, he would also appreciate donations made to the Salvation Army or Parkwood Hospital Veterans Unit.

Never stop singing, smiling and cracking jokes. We know he never will.