Edith M Howland

Edith Mary Wills Howland (Edie) passed away peacefully on May 13, 2015 in the presence of family members at St. Vincent’s Hospital. Edie was born November 27, 1930 in Binbrook Township, Wentworth County, Ontario Canada to George Winfred Wills and Edith Mary Brockbank Wills. She grew up with eight brothers and sisters and remained closest to her sister Cece, with whom she lived for many years, most recently at St. Catherine’s Laboure Manor until her death. Edie moved to New York to attend secretarial school and live with Cece, a practicing nurse in New York at the time, and she worked for an advertising agency until the pair moved to West Palm Beach in the 1970s. While in New York, she attended Broadway plays and loved to regale her numerous shows from the standing room only section. While in North Palm Beach, Edie met the love of her life in North Palm Beach City Manager Raymond Howland, and the pair married in 1982, and lived what both would describe as the best 16 years of their lives. The couple loved tennis, golf, skiing and were avid bicycle riders. The pair traveled around the world to watch sporting events which included Wimbledon, the Atlanta Olympics and participated in countless bicycling events as active members of the West Palm Beach Bike Club. Upon Ray’s sudden death during a bicycling event, Edie worked passionately to start the Ray Howland Scholarship fund at the Community Foundation of Palm Beach and Martin Counties, and the scholarship, now endowed, will remain a tribute to their love for each other.Edie cared for her sister, Cece Kearney, for many years before moving to Jacksonville to live closer to her stepson, Michael Howland and his family. She is survived by her sister Cece, and her stepchildren, Mike (Cathy) of Jacksonville, Florida, Vicky Lounsbury (Dave) of Liverpool New York, Steve (Yolanda) of Hayward California and Valerie Howland of Pine City New York; as well as a brother Peter and a myriad of nieces, nephews and grandnieces and grandnephews in Canada. She had six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren living in the United States. A mass and private memorial services are planned. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations to any charity in her name as Edie was a passionate supporter of all charities.