Obituary of Paula Florence Ida Owen

December 7, 1949 – Turnhout, Belgium

January 16, 2023 – Calgary, Alberta

Paula Owen (nee Van Eyck), beloved and wonderful wife of Gary Owen of Calgary, AB, passed away peacefully on Monday, January 16, 2023, at the age of 73 years.

Born in Turnhout, Belgium on December 7, 1949, Paula came to Canada with her family in 1952. She grew up in the Muskoka region of Ontario near Huntsville, working summers in her parents’ motel and skiing in the winter. After moving to Toronto at age eighteen, she began a career in the insurance industry where she worked until age 55, rising to supervisory and managerial positions.

Paula met her future husband Gary while they worked at the same company in Toronto. They were married on April 6, 1974 and moved to Calgary in 1976.

Travel was a great joy to Paula and she loved trips to San Diego and Europe but her favourite was Hawaii, which she visited eight times with Gary. Being owned by several dogs, skiing, golf and gardening were passions only exceeded by her joy in watching Toronto Blue Jay games, particularly when they beat Gary’s Yankees.

Paula is survived by her sister Annie (Herb) Schiepan, nephew Ron (Lorrie) Schiepan, niece Karen (Chris) Manherz, nephew David Schiepan, sister-in-law Mary (Mike) Van Eyck, niece Tina Van Eyck, niece Danielle (Bob) Barter, nephew Terry (Kelly) Corbett, and niece Debbie Corbett, several grandnieces and nephews and a host of friends, many of whom, when first meeting her, felt they had known her forever and became instant buddies. She was predeceased by her mother Josephina, father Frank, brother Mike and sister Pat. 

A Private Celebration of Paula’s life will be held at a later date. Condolences, memories, and photos may be shared with Paula’s family here.

In living memory of Paula Owen, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McInnis & Holloway Funeral Homes, Fish Creek, 14441 Bannister Road SE, Calgary, Ab t2x 3j3, Telephone: 403-256-9575.