Dec 28, 1954 - Jul 03, 2026

• Jean Elizabeth Owen (née Ferris)

With broken hearts, we announce the peaceful passing of our beloved mom, Jean Elizabeth Owen, on July 3, 2026, at the age of 71, surrounded by love.

Jean’s heart was always open. She found joy in bringing people together, making everyone feel welcome, and helping others in whatever way she could. Through thoughtful conversations, words of encouragement, and genuine kindness, she had a remarkable gift for making people feel seen, valued, and cared for.

Her greatest joy was her family. She was a devoted mom to Tyler, Courtney (Dave), and Kelly, and a proud grandma to Jacob and Mackenzie, who brought endless happiness to her life.

Jean was born in Sudbury and raised in Lively, Ontario, by her parents, Lloyd and Irma Ferris. The youngest of six children, she grew up with her beloved siblings: Joyce (the late John), Ralph (Irene), the late Keith (Brigitte), the late Bill, and Bonnie (Alex).

Many of Jean’s happiest memories were made at Shawanaga Lake, where her father was born and later built the family cottage on land that remains in the Ferris family today. It was a place she cherished throughout her life and a treasured gathering place for generations of family.

She also cherished being an aunt to Tim (the late Anna), Anne Marie (Steve), Heather, Kerri (Paulo), Dean, Mike (Heidi), Dave (Laurel), Erin (Trevor), Mark (Shelley), Lori (Mat), and Kara (Clint), as well as to all of their children.

A lifelong learner, Jean earned her degree in Mathematics and Computer Science from the University of Waterloo before working as a consultant. She later found a career with Nu Skin that perfectly matched her love of people while allowing her to be at home with her children. Over more than 30 years, she built not only a successful business but also a community of lifelong friends she affectionately called “her people.”

Jean loved books, meaningful conversations, and helping others grow. Her generosity, warmth, and unwavering belief in people touched countless lives. The kindness she shared and the connections she created are part of a legacy that will continue to live on.

Our family is deeply grateful to the incredible doctors, nurses, and staff of 7F and 5E at The Ottawa Hospital’s Civic Campus, and to Dr. Clemons at the Irving Greenberg Family Cancer Centre. Their compassion, skill, and kindness brought comfort to Jean and to all of us during her final days.

Thank you to everyone who loved and supported Jean throughout the years, especially in recent months. She carried each of you in her heart and always wished the very best for everyone.

A celebration of Jean’s life will be held at Napoli’s Café in Stittsville on Saturday, July 25, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. to noon.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Jean’s memory to organizations that were meaningful to her and her family:

• Ottawa Hospital Foundation (https://ohfoundation.ca/in-memoriam). Donations made in memory of Jean Owen will be directed to the Triple Negative Breast Cancer Fund.
• MS Canada (https://mscanada.ca/ways-to-give )