Lois Fern Owens

Lois Fern Owens (Gibson) nee Bahm, Feb 8, 1929 - November 21, 2023. Passed away peacefully, with the grace and dignity she always displayed, at the Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital in her 95th year. Born and raised on the family farm in Arnprior, Ontario, Lois longed for big city life, and moved to Toronto to join her sisters in her early twenties. She worked in both the mining and financial industries, where she met her husband Harold and moved to Mississauga. While raising her family, she became President of the Mississauga Hospital Auxiliary and a community leader in numerous election campaigns. As the children grew up, Lois wished to satisfy her ambition for success in the business world and was hired as manager of the Motor Vehicle License office in the new Square One Shopping Centre. After successfully growing that business, she was hired in 1979 as the General Manager and later the Executive Director of the Mississauga Board of Trade, growing the board to rank second only to Toronto in Ontario and sixth in Canada. This growth resulted in Lois spearheading the opening of the Board of Trade restaurant and meeting facility on Robert Speck Parkway. In 1986 she became the first woman to serve as President of the Ontario Chamber of Commerce Executives and in the same year was the first woman to be named Manager of the Year for Chambers of Commerce and Boards of Trade across Canada. In 1990 she was the first female recipient of the Council of Excellence Award of the Chamber of Commerce Executives of Canada. A trailblazer for women in business during a time dominated by men, she served on many councils and boards including the Mississauga Foundation & Hospital, Peel District Health Council, Sheridan College and the City of Mississauga. She completed her business career as the Executive Director at the Board of Trade, retiring in 1991. In 1997 Lois married Jack Owens from Minnesota, and the couple spent summers in Gilbert, Minnesota then Virgil, Ontario while wintering in Fort Myers, Florida. Lois and Jack enjoyed golfing and entertaining family and friends in the U.S. and Canada. An avid golfer, Lois and the family enjoyed summers as members of Chinguacousy Golf and Country Club. She later became an active member of Mississauga Golf and Country Club and in retirement golfed at Eshquagama Country Club in Gilbert, Minnesota and Kelly Greens and Lexington Country Clubs in Fort Myers, Florida. Her golf improved from beginner to a single digit handicap; winning club championships and tournaments at the clubs she played, while recording three hole-in-ones in her lifetime. Predeceased by parents Herman and Edna Bahm, siblings Roddie, Willard, Lucille, Catherine and Robert. Lois was the adored wife of the late Jack Owens (2013) and Harold Gibson (1995). Loving mother to Jeff Gibson (Liz), Jane Fabok (Paul), Anne Marie Roe (Jim) and her U.S.A. family Greg (Barbara) and Lezley Owens. Grandmother to Lydia (Jim), Noah (Sarah) and Ivy Gibson, Sarah Brown (Chris) and Joel Fabok (Kailee), Rachel Roe-Wu (James), Matthew Owens (Amanda) and Lindsay Srdjevic (Ivan). Great grandmother to Addilyn, Kena, Peyton and Hadlee Fabok, Blaze Brown, Lydia and Maddie Owens and Niko and Novak Srdjevic. She was blessed with three children with Harold and recently was blessed again when she was reunited with her first-born Bette Chernin McTamney (Mike) and grandchildren, Mike(Lori) and Jaclyn(Jon) and great grand children Jillian, Jonathan and Jacob. Bette was born during Lois’ early working years in Toronto. Through modern technology Bette was able to find Lois and finally meet on Mother’s Day 2023 filling both of their hearts with the love they had lost all those years ago. Their relationship flourished over the past year as Lois took a keen interest in learning of Bette’s fulfilled life and family, making Lois proud of her life decisions for herself and all of her children. A celebration of life and interment of cremated remains at the St. James Cemetery in Toronto will occur at a later date with close family and friends. In memory of Lois please consider a donation to the Oakville Hospital Foundation, providing clinical staff resources and equipment to care for others, as they did for Lois.