Aileen McCalip (Cowie)

McCalip, Aileen On May 29, 2025 Roberta Aileen Cowie McCalip/Sullivan left this world peacefully in her 89th year. She was born on August 31, 1936 the daughter of Robert Cowie and Violet Crowe Cowie of Hiawatha First Nation, baby sister to Robert, Boyd, Alfred and Lucille Cowie Howson. She married her childhood sweetheart, Robert Shannon Paudash McCalip (deceased), of Hiawatha in 1958. They had two children, Slade and Risa (Gilbert Bartosh). She was blessed with seven grandchildren: Samantha, Hannah, Jacob, and Melanie, Bobby, Monica and Rebecca. She also had two great grandchildren, Jeremiah and Roman. She and Robert Sullivan were married 10 adventurous years until he passed in 2012. Aileen lived most of her life in Hiawatha and after graduating from Peterborough Civic Hospital as a registered nurse, she spent 24 years in various locations in the United States including: Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Pennsylvania and Maryland. The family spent many wonderful years in Wampum, PA and had numerous friends considered extended family. Aileen was an entrepreneur from an early age selling worms and frogs to fishermen visiting Hiawatha. Along with her many years of private duty, emergency room and operating room nursing, she also found time to attain her real estate license. In 1981 she moved back to Hiawatha First Nation and worked as a prison nurse in Millbrook, and then becoming the Social Services Administrator for Hiawatha First Nation. She got back to her entrepreneurial roots in Hiawatha by opening Hiawatha Line Smoke Shop at age 74 and running it with her children until just a few months ago. Aileen’s hobbies included playing hockey, attending dances and fishing in her younger years. Golfing with her family and Pennsylvania friends, traveling, listening to country music, working jigsaw puzzles and playing dominos (which she played without mercy until her last hospitalization). Aileen was Deer Clan and true to her clan she was a helper; not only as a Nurse but as a Social Services Administrator and Hiawatha Council member (who assisted with the design and construction of the original Life Centre). A Funeral Service will be held at Hiawatha United Church, 120 Paudash Street. Hiawatha FN on Friday, June 6th, 2025 at 1pm. Immediately following the service there will be an informal reception at 13 Lakeshore Rd South, Hiawatha FN. In lieu of flowers, Aileen requested that donations be made to Hiawatha United Church. Online condolences may be made at CommunityAlternative.ca

Aileen McCalip (Cowie)

August 31, 1936 - May 29, 2025