Claire McRae

Claire Eleanor Jeanette McRae (née Shanks)

January 12, 1928 – September 13, 2024

Claire passed peacefully and joins Wendell, her late husband of 54 years and her late son Donald, who died tragically.  She was the daughter of Isaac Shanks and Ada (Riddell).  Claire was predeceased by her siblings and their spouses Evelyn (James McLean), Daniel (Elsie Bimm), Kenneth (Doris Twolan), Donald (Irene Dymond), Isabelle (Nick Mainelly), Margaret (Melvyn James and Delbert Klatt), Katherine (Alex Strode) and Florence (Graham Pye) and sisters-in-law Audrey (William Hunter), Myrtle McRae, Norma (Stanley Kerfoot) and Elizabeth (Glynn Reid). 

She is survived by sister Marian (the late Ernest Cooper and Howard Buchanan) and brother Tom (the late Jackie Snape).  She is also survived by brothers-in-law James McRae (Claudette Guenard) and William McRae (the late Mariette Guilbeault). 

Claire was a mother to Ronald (Helen Doucet), Wendy (Brian Ford), Kenneth, Richard (Bernadette Puccini) and Blair (Deborah Denroche) and also a loving Nana to Matthew (Janka Husarcikova) and Angela Ford. She will be sadly missed by numerous nephews, nieces, cousins and friends. 

Claire was born at Snow Road, Ontario and was a resident of Stittsville for 66 years. She often said how thankful she was to be raised in a home with loving parents and siblings.  She was a devoted member of the Presbyterian Women’s group and Lionettes, supporting the Stittsville Lion’s Club.  Throughout life, Claire maintained her kindness, love of family and friends and expressed gratitude for a blessed long life.  She is fondly remembered for her love of gardening, crafting and cooking.

The family will receive condolences at 10:00AM on October 17 at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, 2 Mulkins Street, Stittsville, where Claire was an active member of the congregation for many years. The funeral service will follow at 11:00AM in the church with a Celebration of Life to follow in the church hall.  A private family committal of ashes will take place at a later date.

Special thanks to the dedicated staff at Brookside Senior Living Kanata.  Charitable donations in her memory may be made to the University of Ottawa Heart Institute or St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Stittsville.

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