Hannah Jane Howell of Grande Prairie, Alberta, was promoted to glory in the early morning hours of Friday, September 25, 2026, at the age of 97.

Jane was born on September 12, 1929, to the late Elizabeth and George Butt in Grand Bank, Newfoundland and Labrador. She was the second of eight children. Jane was a proud Newfie through and through.

Jane married her soulmate, Lester Howell, in 1959. Soon after, they moved to Schefferville, Quebec, where Les worked in the iron ore mines. In 1960, they welcomed their first son, Paul. In 1962, they added another son to the family, Ken, and finally, in 1966, they welcomed their daughter, Joanne. Jane made many lifelong friends in Schefferville, many of whom she remained in contact with throughout the years.

In 1988, Jane and Les moved to Grande Prairie to be closer to their first grandchildren. Jane, or “Nan” as her grandchildren called her, was a special part of their lives. Not only was she their Nan, she was everyone’s Nan. Whenever she had the chance, she would show up and support them in whatever way she could.

Nan and Pop were the best. If you tried to custom-order the perfect grandparents, you could not have done better than Nan and Pop. From being spoiled with treats right before dinner, to sleepovers, to unconditional love, they were always there.

Jane was a faithful servant of her Saviour, Jesus Christ. On Sunday mornings, you could find her at the Salvation Army Community Church, praising Him. For many years, Jane volunteered at the Soup Kitchen, helping those who were less fortunate. Even though she was small in size, she had a large presence, and everyone she served respected her. She also volunteered with the Christmas Kettles year after year. Jane was proud to be a member of the Salvation Army Church and loved the people there dearly.

Jane touched the lives of many people and will be forever missed by all who had the pleasure of knowing her. She is survived by her son, Paul (Marie Helene) Howell; her grandchildren, Adam (Leslie), Liam, and Doug (Brittany) Howell, and their mother, Denice Klavano; Brandon (Sam), Joanne, and Casey (Cyrena) Kataquapit, and their mother, Brenda Kataquapit; and her granddaughter, Allyson Foster, who cared for her during her final weeks, and Allyson’s father, Jeff Foster. She also leaves behind six great-grandchildren, whom she adored: Eli, Skylar, Jayden, Claudia Jane, Ayla, and Summer; her sisters, Mary Beck and Esther Butt; her brother, Norman (Miriam) Butt; her extended family across the country; and many true friends she made throughout her life.

Jane was predeceased by her parents, Elizabeth and George; her beloved husband, Lester; her son, Ken; her daughter, Joanne; and her grandson, Brad, whom she was still so proud of in her final days. She was also predeceased by her sisters, Becky (Clarence) and Georgie, and her brothers, Freddie and Harry (Vera).

The family would like to thank the Salvation Army church community for praying with Jane and her family during her final days. The family would especially like to thank Colleen Harrison, who was a pillar of support for Jane and her family throughout Jane’s final weeks.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Jane’s memory to Wounded Warriors Canada, in memory of Brad Howell (#1900, 1500 West Georgia St., Vancouver, BC V6G 2Z6), or to the Salvation Army Grande Prairie Community & Family Services.

Jane’s service will be held on Friday, October 2, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. at the Salvation Army Community Church in Grande Prairie (9525-83 Ave.), followed by a family-only interment at the Grande Prairie Cemetery (84 Ave. & 112 St.).

For those who cannot attend in person, the service will be livestreamed on the church’s YouTube page (https://www.youtube.com/@thesalvationarmygrandeprai7745). On the day of the service, the livestream will appear on their page.

While every effort is made to ensure a smooth livestream, technical or broadcast issues may occasionally occur beyond the control of Oliver’s Funeral Home.