Obituary of Lorene Ethel McLean (nee Hodgins)

On July 8th 2019, in her 98th year, Lorene Ethel Hodgins McLean passed away peacefully at Pontiac Community Hospital in Shawville, QC. She was predeceased by her husband of 59 years, C. Douglas McLean, her brother, Leslie Hodgins, her sister, Elora Stanley (Hodgins), her “favourite” son-in-law, David Ayearst, and her grand-daughter, Harley Ayearst.

The family matriarch, Lorene will be missed by her son, Leslie McLean, her daughter, Sheila Ayearst; her grand-children Brent, Colin, and Jeff McLean & McLean and Julia Ayearst; and her great-grand-children Sarah, Lyndsey, Megan, Abby, Kaeden and Loghan & Theodore and Jane.

The daughter of W.E.N. (Nellis) Hodgins and Ethel J. Hodgins (Paul) Lorene was born in Shawville, on December 29, 1921. She attended Victoria Avenue School along with her brother, Leslie, and sister and best friend, Elora.

In the early 1930s, the family moved to Ottawa. She met Doug at Lisgar Collegiate Institute and they were married in 1942, two weeks before he went overseas to join the R.A.F. for the duration of World War II. When he returned, they built a home in Ottawa and their children, Leslie and Sheila were born.

Being a mother and housewife was not enough for Lorene and her drawing and sewing abilities led to her teaching adults millinery and pattern design for the Ottawa Board of Education from 1958 to 1965. At this time, she also found her great love of dogs with Cindy and Sheba followed by Honey, Jake, Ace, and Geordie.

In 1965, Lorene’s family moved to Shawville. A private watercolour course with Marg Perkin, led to her life’s joy - watercolour painting. Her final show was in her 95th year. In between she painted, exhibited, and sold hundreds of paintings. Lorene’s studio was located in her home at Green Lake where she was inspired by the nature around her.

She loved to teach and mentored many of the Pontiac’s artists, and was a founding member of the vibrant Pontiac Artists’ Association. Lorene leaves

behind a rich legacy of paintings of the land, architecture, and people of the Pontiac.

A gathering to celebrate her life will be held at Hayes Funeral Home, 134 Centre Street, Shawville, Quebec on Friday, July 12, 2019 from 1-3pm.

Donations to Friends of St. Joseph's Manor would be appreciated.