Gwendolyn MACLEAN
MACLEAN, Gwendolyn Gwendolyn MacLean (nee Burwash) March 6, 2021, peacefully at home in Lewes, in her 103rd year. Last of her generation, she was predeceased by her husband Angus, and all his and her siblings. Gwen is survived by her four children, daughter Jeannie, son Allan, daughter Mary (Richard) and son Rob (Melissa); granddaughters Jessica (Geoff), Sarah, Sophie, and Alena; by her sister’s children Beth, Ken, Dave and Jan, and her brother’s children Hazel Ann and Joan, and their children and partners; as well as by Angus’s many nieces and nephews. Gwen was born to Lena Burwash (McBride) in Hawarden, Saskatchewan on June 20, 1918, delivered by her father, Dr. Byron Burwash, the town doctor. In 1929, the family moved to Saskatoon where Gwen graduated from university with a degree in Household Science at the age of 19. She was working as a dietitian at the Winnipeg General Hospital when she met her future husband, Angus, on a blind date in 1940. In 1942, Gwen joined the Royal Canadian Air Force as part of its first cohort of female officers. She was posted to England in January 1945, where she was responsible for the feeding of thousands of airmen on a Canadian airbase. Following the war, Gwen worked as Dean of Women at the Olds, Alberta, Agricultural College and then as a dietitian at Bell Telephone in Montreal. She married Angus in 1952 and raised four children, Jean, Allan, Mary and Robert. During this time, Gwen and Angus shared a busy political life and divided their time between Ottawa and PEI. Gwen and Angus enjoyed almost twenty years of happy retirement until Angus’s death in 2000. In her later years, Gwen’s cottage by the family home in Lewes became a focus of laughter and visits by friends and family. It was a special treat for Gwen and her granddaughters, Jessica, Sarah, Sophie and Alena to have Nana so close by. She stayed sharp in her 90s with crossword puzzles, lifting tiny free weights, cribbage, and a daily tot of sherry. Although Gwen was bedridden for her last two years, her mind and memory fading, she had many happy moments-watching the birds, admiring someone’s knitting, listening to stories or music, enjoying a laugh with visitors-and was at peace with life nearing its end. Resting at Southern Kings & Queens Funeral Home, Murray River. Funeral will take place at Hillcrest United Church, Montague, and sadly must be by invitation only. There is no visitation. Audio of funeral can be found on: www.hillcrestunitedchurch.ca To livestream or access video go to Facebook group: Hillcrest United Church, PE or Bonnie Fraser (PEI). In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Caledonia Cemetery or Hillcrest United Church. Due to covid, we are unable to accept donations in person. You can make a donation by mail to the funeral home (9120 Commercial Rd, Rte. 4, Murray River, PE C0A 1W0 or by etransfer to [email protected] (be sure to include your mailing address).