Obituary for Marie Josephine Cohen (Dunphy)
Marie Josephine Cohen (neé Dunphy)
Born: October 29, 1930 in Grand Falls Newfoundland
Passed on: March 14, 2019 in Grand Falls – Windsor, Newfoundland
Marie passed peacefully away on March 14, 2019 while surrounded by her family. She was in her 89th year. Marie lived almost her entire life in Grand Falls except for the 3 years when she studied nursing at Boston City Hospital. Upon graduating from nursing in 1953, Marie eloped to Montreal to wed her sweetheart, Boyd Cohen. Father Meaney from St. Joseph's Parish, Windsor Newfoundland presided over the wedding. He was accompanied by his nephew and nephew’s wife who were Boyd and Marie’s only guests and witnesses. Boyd was her beloved husband for 65 years.
Marie’s life was not focused on the pursuit of happiness as a goal. She thought deeply about the meaning of life and extracted happiness as a welcome side-effect, an unexpected benefit through living a meaningful life. The kind of meaning that would sustain her through the suffering that life entails and the disappointment brought on by illness and aging.
Marie was a modern woman, far ahead of her times. She raised her children to think critically, defend freedom, justice and equality and to be fiercely independent. Throughout her life she was unafraid to speak her mind in an era where this was more often than not, unaccepted and unexpected. Marie instilled in her family and especially in her children an unwavering commitment to leadership, and to take responsibility for your own life. She was an active listener with a curious mind, she was our wise counsel, an avid reader and up-to-date on current affairs – until the day she passed. But most of all she loved to spend time with Boyd and their family. Marie is already terribly missed by her family and will always be Boyd’s sweetheart.
Marie was the loving and proud mother and mother-in-law of Dr. Michael T. and Carolann Cohen, Nancy Cohen and Robert Gallant, Margaret Cohen and Dr. Howard Zinman, and David and Sarah Cohen. Cherished Nan of Michael J. and Donna Cohen, Emily Cohen-Gallant, Isabel and Jeffrey van der Ree, Adrian Cohen-Gallant, Clara Zinman, Ethan Cohen and Samuel Cohen. Marie was the second of the twelve children of Llewelyn William and Anne Dunphy. Marie leaves behind, four sisters; Janice, Patricia, Lillian and Anne and four brothers; William, David, Ronald and Paul. Marie was preceded in death by her two sisters; Ruth and Elizabeth and one brother, Thomas.
The family offers a special thank-you to her compassionate caregivers; her sister Jan Duder, Bev Willemse, Shirley Mercer, Gloria Nippard and Mary Chow, to the Central Newfoundland Regional Health Centre Nursing Staff covering Units 3A and 3B, and to the CNRH Palliative Care Consultants.
In lieu of flowers, Marie’s family encourages donations in her memory to the Lionel Kelland Hospice, 3 St. Catherine Street, Grand Falls-Windsor, NL A2A 1V7.
Born: October 29, 1930 in Grand Falls Newfoundland
Passed on: March 14, 2019 in Grand Falls – Windsor, Newfoundland
Marie passed peacefully away on March 14, 2019 while surrounded by her family. She was in her 89th year. Marie lived almost her entire life in Grand Falls except for the 3 years when she studied nursing at Boston City Hospital. Upon graduating from nursing in 1953, Marie eloped to Montreal to wed her sweetheart, Boyd Cohen. Father Meaney from St. Joseph's Parish, Windsor Newfoundland presided over the wedding. He was accompanied by his nephew and nephew’s wife who were Boyd and Marie’s only guests and witnesses. Boyd was her beloved husband for 65 years.
Marie’s life was not focused on the pursuit of happiness as a goal. She thought deeply about the meaning of life and extracted happiness as a welcome side-effect, an unexpected benefit through living a meaningful life. The kind of meaning that would sustain her through the suffering that life entails and the disappointment brought on by illness and aging.
Marie was a modern woman, far ahead of her times. She raised her children to think critically, defend freedom, justice and equality and to be fiercely independent. Throughout her life she was unafraid to speak her mind in an era where this was more often than not, unaccepted and unexpected. Marie instilled in her family and especially in her children an unwavering commitment to leadership, and to take responsibility for your own life. She was an active listener with a curious mind, she was our wise counsel, an avid reader and up-to-date on current affairs – until the day she passed. But most of all she loved to spend time with Boyd and their family. Marie is already terribly missed by her family and will always be Boyd’s sweetheart.
Marie was the loving and proud mother and mother-in-law of Dr. Michael T. and Carolann Cohen, Nancy Cohen and Robert Gallant, Margaret Cohen and Dr. Howard Zinman, and David and Sarah Cohen. Cherished Nan of Michael J. and Donna Cohen, Emily Cohen-Gallant, Isabel and Jeffrey van der Ree, Adrian Cohen-Gallant, Clara Zinman, Ethan Cohen and Samuel Cohen. Marie was the second of the twelve children of Llewelyn William and Anne Dunphy. Marie leaves behind, four sisters; Janice, Patricia, Lillian and Anne and four brothers; William, David, Ronald and Paul. Marie was preceded in death by her two sisters; Ruth and Elizabeth and one brother, Thomas.
The family offers a special thank-you to her compassionate caregivers; her sister Jan Duder, Bev Willemse, Shirley Mercer, Gloria Nippard and Mary Chow, to the Central Newfoundland Regional Health Centre Nursing Staff covering Units 3A and 3B, and to the CNRH Palliative Care Consultants.
In lieu of flowers, Marie’s family encourages donations in her memory to the Lionel Kelland Hospice, 3 St. Catherine Street, Grand Falls-Windsor, NL A2A 1V7.