Maud Cowan Bonnier

♥ Maud Bonnier (nee. Cowan), an emblem of love, laughter and vivacity, passed away peacefully in her sleep on March 23, 2026 at the age of 103.

♥ A loving mother to Anne, Terry (deceased) and Kim, beloved grandmother to Bonni and Dave (Anne), Daniel and Chris (Terry), and Shannon (Kim), great grandmother to Shayla, James, Eliot, Zac, Natalia and Sophia. She also leaves behind many cherished nieces and nephews. Her warm and loving presence will be dearly missed by all.

♥ Maud had an indomitable spirit, and lived a long life filled with joy, compassion, patience and love. Her generous soul found joy in helping others, a trait that made her a beloved figure in her community. She was the last of her great generation, and she leaves behind a legacy of kindness and generosity. Known for her love of life, art and nature, she was a beacon of warmth in the lives of many and will continue to inspire those who had the privilege to know her. Her unwavering strength, resilience and positive outlook, even in the face of adversity, will forever be remembered.

♥ A Celebration of Life service will be held for Maud on May 17, 2026 at 3:00 PM by the Lakeshore Unitarian Universalist Congregation at 5065 Rue Sherbrooke, Lachine, QC, H8T 1H9. A reception with refreshments will follow.

♥ Please gather with us for this tribute to Maud's radiant life, and join us in fellowship afterward, where all can share their wonderful stories and memories of her. May her love and spirit continue to live on through her family, friends and community.

♥ If you would like to, please take a moment to share below your memories, stories and/or photos of Maud with her family and loved ones.

♥ Thank you.

"Do not stand at my grave and weep, I am not there. I do not sleep. I am a thousand winds that blow. I am the diamond glints on snow. I am the sunlight on ripened grain. I am the gentle autumn rain. When you awaken in the morning's hush I am the swift uplifting rush of quiet birds in circled flight. I am the soft stars that shine at night. Do not stand at my grave and cry; I am not there. I did not die." ~Mary Elizabeth Frye

12 Little Jars
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Karen-Elizabeth Hobson, ©1996

I’m not afraid to die. Take my ashes and toss them to the sky.
Sprinkle some on the ground. Let some fly all around.
And then you will remember me.

For 12 months. For a year. From when I last was here.
Take out the little jars. Some days you’ll travel far.
To where we shared our memories.

Don’t forget how hard I tried to live my life the best I could.
And remember when I said, “When in doubt, create a new memory.”
If I was hard on you, remember how hard I was on me.

You may wonder one day that I’m missed. Do heaven and hell even exist?
Where has your loved one gone? In your thoughts where I belong.
The only place that truly mattered to me.

When all 12 jars are empty know that you have done plenty
You have done all I ask. But please, just one more task.
The time has come to let yourself be free.

And now a full year has passed. My ashes have spread through every season.
And remember when I said, “If I have a spirit, I’ll watch over you.
You’ll feel my arms around you while you sleep.”

~*~

And remember when I said, “Life’s short, so laugh and smile a lot.
And don’t forget to sing and dance with friends.”

And remember when I said, “Don’t wait for god to change the world.
Never underestimate your own inner strength.”

And remember when I said, “I’m not afraid to die, and so
You must never be afraid to boldly live each day of your life.”

[Update 05/22/2026]
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On behalf of my family, I would like to offer our heartfelt thanks to everyone who attended the service last Sunday, your love and presence was greatly appreciated.

We also wish to express our deepest gratitude to the lovely Rev. Heather Fraser Fawcett, the musicians, and the rest of the LUUC members who made everything run smoothly behind the scenes.

For those who were unable to join us, the LUUC graciously recorded the service, which is available to watch via the link at the very bottom of this page.

~Bonni ♥