Nadine Doris Powell

No death announcement could fully convey the joie de vivre of Nadine “Nikki” Doris Powell née Warner. Nadine continued to make friends and care for others until the very end of her life. Nadine was born to Sally Waghorn in Montreal on July 25 1933, and was a “true Leo” in terms of her outgoingness and style. 

Nadine moved to Toronto, Ontario, Canada at age two, where she grew up with her aunt and uncle, Emily and Roy Warner and sister Joanne. Emily and Roy raised their daughters with loving care under which Nadine developed not only a love of family but also a love of the arts; theatre, music, dance and visual arts. She grew up in Regent Park, attending Park St. Public school, where she met her best friend Barb Cooper in grade seven. They also attended Jarvis Collegiate together, and their close friendship has endured until Nadine’s death. Also at age 12 she met Jim Powell, a neighbor on nearby Wascana Avenue. Unbeknownst at the time, they would be married a decade later. 

Nikki and Jim were married in Toronto at Fantasy Farm in 1955, and remained married for 56 years until Jim’s passing in 2011. Alderwood, Etobicoke was where their married life began and they raised their family. Their first son James Peter (wife Tuyet) was born in 1958, followed by Bonita Joanne, Steven Gary (predeceased), and Roger Eric. Nadine worked in linens at Eatons Sherway Gardens for over 25 years, and made many friends there with whom she kept in touch after retirement.

Nadine loved dogs and was never without a special dog in her life. Her dogs enjoyed ample treats and walks. Nadine volunteered with the Red Cross to entertain seniors. With her cousins, Cookie Skinner and Jackie Hunt, sister-in-law Betty Waddington and Ellen McVey, she formed a choir called The Lilting Lions and they performed at seniors' homes around Toronto. Nadine will be missed by all who knew her, her children James, Bonnie and Roger and her sister Joanne Warner. “Nanny” will be deeply missed, especially by her grandchildren: John, Miranda, Seraph, Matthew and Sarah (their mother, Lynne Hind), Destiny, Mingus, Pogo, Simone, and great grandchildren Jascha and Cleo.

She is predeceased by her half-sister June Kaiser, her husband Jim Powell and her son Steven. It is a comfort to imagine her reunited with Steven, June, Jim and Betty.

• Service for Nadine will take place Monday, June 16th, at 12 noon.

• Location: St. John’s Norway Church, 470 Woodbine Avenue, Toronto.

Nadine will be interred at Highland Memory Gardens, Toronto, alongside Jim and Steven.

Our family thanks the staff at Ewart Angus House for their wonderful care for Nadine while she lived there, August 2023 to March 2025.

Our heartfelt gratitude goes to the staff at St. Michael's hospital geriatric and internal medicine departments for professional guidance and unwavering service and support to Nadine in her final weeks. She passed there of old age and in comfort.

Nadine was a supporter of Toronto Human Society and was helped in later life by Toronto Alzheimer’s Society

Donations to these causes in her honor are appreciated.