“I had a good run.”
With sadness the family of George Alvin Howells announce his passing November 27, 2020 at La Verendrye Hospital due to complications of prostate cancer.
He was known to some as George and others as Alvin since his father was George A. Howells.
Alvin was born August 1, 1943 in Rainy River, Ont. to George Arthur and Noreen Esther Ethel (Brown) Howells. He was the third child, the youngest son and the youngest child for 16 years.
Much of his youth was spent at the residence on Third Street East and had grandparents in the house next door. Briefly he lived in the middle of Fort Frances then the remainder of his life was at his residence on Third Street West, where over the years he lived with his wife, his daughters, mother-in-law, extended family, his mother and his late life partner.
George worked for Bell Canada as a Linesman and Boise Cascade on the charging floor then purchased skidders which he rented out for a number of years. He supported himself in a manner that funded his simple lifestyle.
Alvin spent much time at the family cabin on Birch Island, Rainy Lake until the 80’s and later he and Helen had a shack near Seine River First Nation. Favourite activities were boating, snowmobiling and hunting with Crowe relatives on island in Rainy Lake and later in life he chose to observe the world from the kitchen windows on Third Street West with a cigarette always in one hand and a cup of coffee. He had regular visits from nephews and calls from sisters but nothing made him happier than visits from children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Survivors include: his daughter Lisa Marie (Howells) Strom (b.1964); Lisa’s daughters Erica Noelle Strom (b.1987) (Wil Fairbank) and Bailley Alice Strom (b.1992) (Cody); Tammy’s daughters Breanna Pascale Dubord (b.1986) (Jocelyn Guertin) and Chantal Rose-Aline Dubord (b.1991) (David Ringuet); Tammy’s grandchildren Ayden Vachon (Bre’s son) and Kéleb, Adyson, Hunter and Walker (Chantal’s three sons and daughter); son-in-law André Dubord; his sisters Connie McKelvie and Janice Tucker (Blaine); his primary caregiver and nephew Michael McKelvie; and various other nieces and nephews and their families on the Howells side; sister-in-law Marlene Wilson and three nieces and their families on the Mills side; ex-wife and mother of his daughters Donna (Mills) Howells (Kelvin Lee) and Erica and Bailley’s father Eric Strom.
George A. was predeceased by: his daughter Tammy Lynn (Howells) Dubord (b.1967-d. Oct. 10, 2017); his mother Noreen Esther Ethel (Brown) (Howells) Korpi (b.1917- d.Feb. 13, 2003); his father George Arthur Howells (b. 1913- d. Dec. 26, 1978); his brother Leonard Archibald Howells (b.1935- d. Mar.27, 2007); his maternal grandparents William Archibald (1889-1983) and Grace Eva (Dimer) (1896-1987) Brown; his paternal grandparents Leonard George (1881-1967) and Rosina (Edwards) (1878-1954) Howells; mother and father-in-law Alice (Crowe) (d.1980) and Orland (d.1964) Mills; brothers-in-law Frederick McKelvie (d.2009) and Harris Wilson (d. 2019); sister-in-law Priscella (Perrault) Howells (d. 1997); nephew Jimmy McKelvie (d.1995); and late in life partner Helen (Willie) Torfin (d.2016).
Family will honour his final wishes and cremation will occur. There will be NO service! Ashes will be inurned with his mother, Noreen, in the summer of 2021.
If you wish to honour his memory, donations can be made in his name to the Canadian Cancer Society, 1093 Barton St., Thunder Bay, ON P7B 5N3.
Online condolences may be made in care of www.greenfuneralhomefortfrances.com
