Raven’s favourite day of the year was March 4th—the only day that is also a command—so we like to think that she followed that command and ‘marched forth’ into the afterlife on the 6th.
Beginning her life in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Raven was the cherished daughter of deceased Keith and Dolores Cox. Loving mother of Juna, Jason and his partner Andrea, Emma and her husband Alex, and beloved grandmother of Kyle and Emily. Sister to Joanne, Janet, Nancy, Robert and his wife Teri, and Philip. She will be fondly remembered by her many nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, and cousins.
In addition to her family, Raven will be missed by the many friends she made throughout her life. The many deep and meaningful friendships she developed with her ‘chosen family’ will last eternally. As her grandson Kyle once said, “That Grandma Raven, always a friend to everyone.”
Raven had a deep calling to be a healer and a helper. She excelled as a PSW to her clients, most recently to her dear client and friend George, and provided a gentle loving touch through various healing modalities such as reflexology, to her clients, family, and friends alike. An eternal optimist, she was known for her love of daily affirmation calendars and positive thinking. She was focused on healthy living throughout her whole life, using natural remedies and healthy, plant-based eating before it was popular. She was ahead of her time in that regard, though it occasionally resulted in unfortunate experiments like feeding her kids tofu in the 1980s and 1990s before it was very palatable, or trying to reduce their sugar intake by donating their Halloween candy to kids who were unable to trick or treat.
Raven savoured being out in nature and enjoyed taking her grand-dog Bosco for walks on trails along the Grand River.
A lifelong music lover, Raven’s first albums were by Led Zeppelin and Deep Purple. As a teenager, she almost wore out the 45 of ‘Lean on Me’ by Bill Withers, playing the record over and over, dancing and singing along with her sister Janet. She also adored Alanis Morissette and was delighted to see her perform live, along with her sister Nancy. She enjoyed jazz & blues, and loved to rock out and dance to live music with her friends at Rhapsody Barrel Bar in Kitchener.
Music was soothing comfort to Raven to her last breath. She loved ‘Imagine’ by John Lennon, both the music and the visionary message of the song, and she and her family sang along to the words together in her final days.
Raven, we love you, dear friend, daughter, sister, mother, grandmother, cousin, niece, auntie. In your final days, you took comfort in the knowledge that you would soon be welcomed by the grandmothers and ancestors. We take comfort in the knowledge that your Raven spirit is now freely and peacefully soaring, and that you are with all those who have gone before.
The time was too short, and you will be missed forever.
In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to cancer research. Messages and condolences may be left for the family at www.tricitycremations.com or 519.772.1237. Please visit Raven's obituary notice on Facebook.