Nancy Margaret Fowler

Nancy Margaret Fowler nee Dowling, aged 90, of Pine Ridge Avenue, Kingston, Nova Scotia, died peacefully June 8, 2026 at Valley Regional Hospital comforted by her husband of 65 years John (Jack) Fowler.

Born on February 29, 1936 at 13 Best Street, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, she was one of nine children born to Henry Dennis Dowling and Florence Alice Dowling nee Aulenbach. Nancy and her family moved from Dartmouth to Lunenburg County, Nova Scotia and eventually settled in Greenwood, Nova Scotia.

Nancy attended school in Middleton but had to leave at a young age to help support her family. Later in life Nancy completed her GED, an accomplishment she was very proud of, fulfilling a chapter in her life she felt had been cut short.

On February 25, 1961, Nancy married the love of her life John (Jack) Earle Fowler in Greenwood, Nova Scotia. Jack, being a Flying Officer in the RCAF, meant that he and Nancy moved to various Canadian Forces Bases and raised a family of four daughters together. In 1972, Nancy was given the honour of being part of a receiving party that greeted Queen Elizabeth II when she visited CFB Greenwood. In 1980 Jack and Nancy settled down in Kingston permanently.

Nancy spent her time as a busy mother and homemaker but was always quite keen to earn money of her own. She loved picking strawberries and apples in season; she worked as a school crossing guard and at the canteens for the Hornell Centre and #10 Hanger at CFB Greenwood. She made excellent sandwiches and her macaroni is legend! Nancy volunteered with the Greenwood Health Auxiliary Opportunity Shop as a lifetime member, managing the operation for a long time. She attended the Health Auxiliary’s last luncheon in May 2026. She was an enthusiastic member of the Red Hatters and thoroughly enjoyed the comradery with the friends she met there.

There will be many who remember Nancy from her passion for yard sales and bargain hunting, whether she was buying or selling at Wilmot on Saturdays or Greenwood Mall on Sundays. The last few years she loved attending the Kingston Farmers Market to buy her favourite Wild Cider and socialize with everyone.

Nancy’s family will remember her winning smile and her generosity to all those she knew. Nancy was a social butterfly who loved to dress up for Hallowe’en and greet the children at the door to share in their excitement. Spending time with her grandchildren and great-grand children was a blessing in her later years. She took pleasure in learning about their lives and achievements. She remembered everyone at Christmas, birthdays and anniversaries insisting on sending a card and signing it personally, even when that became difficult in the last few years. She loved holiday celebrations, Christmas the most.

Nancy became very interested in family genealogy and worked with a number of her cousins to document the history of the Aulenbach family tracing them back to 1782 in Lunenburg County. She has passed this wonderful work on to her family.

Nancy will be missed by her husband Jack. Her daughters Maggie Rose Rio, Karen Patricia Fowler (Eric Zscheile), Maria Lynn Fowler and Laura Ann Fowler. Her grandchildren Chris Rio, Jeffrey Rio (Nikita Rio), Timothy Rio, Alexander Zscheile (Courtney Dow), Shynel Fowler, Regan Zscheile (Alec Crowell), Jackson Fowler and Nicklaus Zscheile (Emily Zscheile). Her great-grand children Kylea Rio, Ashlynn Rio and Lucixe Fowler. Her nephew Peter Dowling who has become a close part of her family. Her sister Rose Feener, 96 of Bridgewater.

The family would like to thank all the medical professionals that helped Nancy out in her later years – the VON nurses and caregivers, the Pharmasave staff in Kingston, Community Care and Homes First Funding programs enabling Nancy’s ability to remain at home and Dr. Patricia MacDonald.

It was Nancy’s wish to have organs donated to medical science and the family thanks the Maritime Brain Tissue Bank for honouring that request. Nancy was cremated and her remains will be placed in a special wooden chest that Jack gave Nancy as a gift.

The family is planning a Celebration of Life at a later time and will ensure that the date is posted for people who wish to attend. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Greenwood Health Auxiliary or to the Heart and Stroke Foundation.

Arrangements are entrusted to Middleton Funeral Home, 398 Main Street, 1-855-825-3448. Online guestbook may be signed by visiting: www.middletonfuneralhome.com