Colleen Howe, Gordie's wife, dies at 76

Friday, March 6, 2009
Colleen Howe, Gordie's wife, dies at 76
Colleen Howe, 76, wife of Red Wings great Gordie Howe, died Friday, the team announced. Known as "Mrs. Hockey," she had been ill for several years.
Dave Dye The Detroit News

DETROIT -- Colleen Howe, wife of Red Wings great Gordie Howe, died Friday, the team announced.

Colleen Howe, 76, known as "Mrs. Hockey," had dealt for several years with Pick's disease, an incurable form of dementia.

"Colleen was a pioneer hockey wife and hockey mom and devoted her entire life to the betterment of the game," Wings owners Mike and Marian Ilitch said in a release. "She will be sincerely missed by us and all who knew her."

Colleen Howe is survived by Gordie; sons Marty, Mark and Murray; daughter Cathy; nine grandchildren and one great grandchild.

Funeral arrangements haven't been announced.

I remember reading about her illness a while back. That's a real shame.

That sucks


Poor Gordie


R.I.P Colleen; Mrs Hockey!

Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Services set for 'Mrs. Hockey,' Colleen Howe
Associated Press

BLOOMFIELD HILLS -- Mourners will gather in the Detroit suburb of Bloomfield Hills to pay their respects to Colleen Howe, wife of hockey great Gordie Howe.

A memorial service is scheduled for 11 a.m. Wednesday at St. Hugo of the Hills Church. Visitation at the church begins at 10 a.m.

Colleen Howe died Friday at the age of 76 after battling Pick's disease, a rare form of dementia similar to Alzheimer's.

Known as "Mrs. Hockey," she promoted the sport and stood outside her husband's shadow through her charitable work and success as a businesswoman and author.

She was one of the first female sports agents and was inducted into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame in 2000 for her work with youth hockey.