Eleanor Chase

Eleanor Grace Chase (nee Sinclair)

11/09/1920 - 8/15/2020


Eleanor Grace Chase passed away peacefully on August 15, 2020, at Starwood Extendicare in Nepean Ontario.

Born in Niagara Falls Ontario on November 9, 1920, Eleanor was the youngest of George and Edith Sinclair's three daughters. She loved spending time with family, most especially her older sisters Edith and Marjorie. An avid scholar and natural athlete, she enjoyed running at top speed to and from Stanford Collegiate High School School every day, which was over a mile from home. Eleanor majored in history and English at the University of Toronto, attending teachers college as well. During summer breaks from school, her strong clerical skills helped her land a job as an assistant to the company president of Welland Chemical Works - she was invited back to work each summer thereafter. While working at Welland Chemical Works, she met Howard (Howie) Lowe, who was employed as a chemist during his summer breaks from McGill University medical school. Upon graduating, Eleanor and Howie were married in Niagara Falls in  December 1945, delighted to finally be together after semesters apart during the school year. After a brief period in Montreal, they spent many years in Nelson, B.C. where Howie worked as the local Medical Health Officer, and their daughter Jennifer was born. After work opportunities took them to London, England, Ottawa, and St.Thomas, they eventually settled in Niagara Falls to be closer to Eleanor's family. During their time in Niagara, Eleanor enjoyed working at A.N. Myer Secondary School in Niagara Falls, teaching high school-level history, English, and business courses, while Howie built his medical practise.

Eleanor was widowed in November 1960, when Howie passed away unexpectedly after a brief illness.

In 1964 she married Victor Edward Chase MD (1915-1998) of Ottawa, Ontario, who had been recently widowed. She became a full-time mother to Victor's young children Clare Elizabeth Chase (1955-1978) and Robert Morgan Chase (1958-), as well as her daughter Jennifer. The family moved to Burlington Vermont, returning to Ottawa in 1971 when Victor joined the Dept. of Psychiatry at University of Ottawa, and worked at the Civic Hospital until his retirement. She was widowed a second time in 1998.

In later years she enjoyed spending winters in Port Charlotte Florida, welcoming visits from family and friends, and taking classes to become a certified HAM radio operator. Physical fitness remained a priority throughout her life, she happily admitted to being the oldest member of her exercise group at the Ottawa YMCA. Her love of reading, learning, following current affairs and business trends persisted as well. Late in life she adopted two mature cats from the Humane Society, adopting the second cat after the first one passed away. Both were named Buddy and are fondly remembered by family and friends.

Eleanor is survived by her daughter Jennifer, step-son Robbie, nephew George Duggan (Debbie), niece Barbara Duggan, nephews David Merrifield (Jackie) and Bruce Merrifield, niece Sheila Merrifield Johnstone (Doug), grand-nieces Carrie Duggan-Schaeffer, Pamela Duggan and Sarah Johnstone, grand-nephews Jeff Johnstone and Scott Johnstone, great grand-nieces Breanna Bowes and Nicole Simmons, cousins Jack McGee, Natalie McGee, Kevin McGee, Monica McGee Costello (Rich) and Bill Henneker. She is also survived by her beloved caregiver Brenda Cassalman, who joined the Lowe/Chase family in 2009.

Special thanks are given to Sue MacGregor and the wonderful team at Starwood Extendicare, who gave extraordinary care to Eleanor during recent years.

Due to Covid and cross-border travel restrictions, the family will celebrate her life in a gathering at an appropriate time in the future.