Friends, cousins, nieces and nephews mourn the death of Mary Ellen Jeans, C.M., Ph.D. Mary Ellen passed away peacefully in Ottawa, on December 26, 2023.
Mary Ellen was a dynamic and unique individual who lived life to its fullest. She was wise, passionate, creative and had an appreciation for creativity in others. She loved art, travel, culinary adventures and the discovery of new wines.
Along with her life partner of more than 50 years, the late Dr. Kathleen (Kitty) Rowat, Mary Ellen was the consummate hostess. The doors of their beautiful homes were always open to a wide circle of friends. It did not matter where they travelled – Montreal, Ottawa, small hidden villages in France, the backroads of Québec or the Bahamas, Mary Ellen would invariably run into someone she knew. Mary Ellen and Kitty made friends everywhere, a testament to their kindness and generosity.
Born on March 27, 1943 in Guelph, Ontario, to the late Florence Clough and Robert “Bob” Jeans, Mary Ellen inherited her dad’s passion for music, but knew at a young age that health care was to be her calling.
Mary Ellen obtained her Registered Nurse Diploma from the Hamilton Civic Hospital in 1963 and went on to receive her BScN and MScN from McGill University. She earned a doctorate of Psychology from McGill in 1976.
A recognized and decorated nursing leader, Mary Ellen remained, throughout her life, a fierce advocate for health care reform and the role of nursing within the health system She saw the launch of the first multidisciplinary pain clinic in Canada at the Montreal General Hospital and served as its first administrative director. As head of McGill University's School of Nursing, she was instrumental in establishing Canada’s first Ph.D. program in the field. She also steered the Canadian Nurses Association and the Academy of Canadian Executive Nurses, helping to bring about greater investment in education and research, and greater awareness of the profession's history as an integral part of Canada's heritage.
For her contribution to nursing and health care, among her many honours, Mary Ellen was invested into the Order of Canada (C.M), received the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal and was awarded the Distinguished Career Award of the Canadian Pain Society. During her illustrious career, she found great satisfaction in mentoring young students.
A celebration of Mary Ellen’s life will be held at the Beechwood National Memorial Centre, (280 Beechwood Avenue, Ottawa, Ontario), on Friday, January 19, 2024, at 1:00 p.m. Mary Ellen’s and Kitty’s ashes will be interred on Poet’s Hill, at Beechwood Cemetery following a reception.
In lieu of flowers, it was Mary Ellen’s wish that donations be made to the Dr. Kathleen Rowat Graduate Studies Award through the Canadian Nurses Foundation cnf-fiic.ca
For those attending in person, we ask that you RSVP at maryellensmemorial@gmail.com.
For those who are unable to attend in person, you are invited to register for a livestream via the livestream tab located above.
Digital Guestbook
Dr Alice Baumgart
Dr Alice Baumgart, 178 B Sharon Lane, Elgin ON K0G 1E0
I plan to attend, weather permtting.
Robert Hanson & Jane Hanson
A good friend to all of us. We are so happy to have the great memories.
Celeste Johnston
Mary Ellen introduced me to the world of pain researchers and clinicians, and mentored me through the first several years. She brought me to McGill as a junior faculty member. When I retired I thanked her for many things, the most unique being that it's ok to play in the sand box with the Big Boys. Mary Ellen knocked down many walls for women, nurses in particular, for which we are all grateful. We became good friends and enjoyed times together in the Bahamas as well as Montreal and Ottawa. She will be missed but remembered so fondly.
Rick & Darla Alsteen
So many wonderful memories. She trully was a unique individual. Her & Kitty were cornerstones of the Treasure Cay community. We were fortunate to have enjoyed their friendship and cherish the laughs and hugs that we shared.
Dr. Irmajean Bajnok
Dr. Mary Ellen was a joy to know. She welcomed me into the world of academic nursing, always having a word of wisdom a dxencouragement. Loved her spirit of fun, intellectual curiosity and passion for nursing and health care. She leaves a legacy that is making a difference.
Lisa Little
I had the pleasure of working with Mary Ellen at CNA and with the National Nursing Sector Study. She was always eager to mentor and share strategy. I learned lots from Mary Ellen and still remember her laugh and joie de vive! She has left a memorable mark on nursing and with those who knew her.
Dr. Paul-André Gauthier, PhD nursing
We mourn the lost of a great leader. 😢
Mary Ellen a su faire face à certains de nos défis nursing / santé lors de son travail également avec nous…. à l’Association des infirmières et infirmiers du Canada ( AIIC / CNA).
Nos condoléances à la famille et aux amis.
Condolence to her family and friends.
Linda Silas
Mary Ellen was one of the first nursing leader I meet in Ottawa to which she made this little New Brunswicker feel welcome to the “Ottawa crowd” without being too intimidated 😉. She reminded all of us the importance of together …regardless of our titles plus her and Kate’s hospitality was beyond impressive. RIP
Sandra LeFort
My sincere condolences to the family at Mary Ellen’s passing. I will always regard her as a mentor whose honesty and foresight led me to a rewarding career in pain and nursing research. Her strength of personality and conviction about the role of nursing in helping people were inspiring to her students, myself among them. She will be missed.
A lontime time nursing colleague and, with Kitty, a consumate hostess on my visits to Montreal and Ottawa. Her dedication to nursing and her work in advancing understanding of pain made her such a valued contributer to health care and the advancement of nursing in Canada. Any encounter with Mary Ellen was also always filled with laughter and a sense that good times needed to be leavened with good food and wine and spirited convocation. She will be sorely missed.