Vera Marie Mclean (Nee Sinclair)

June 23, 1928 ~ September 29,2018

It is with sadness the family announces the peaceful passing of Vera on September 29, 2018 at Kildonan Personal Care Centre at the age of 90 years. Vera was predeceased by her husband William (Bill) McLean, grandson Mark McLean, sister Lois Pirt and brother Robert (Bob) Sinclair.

She will be forever remembered and missed by her three children and their partners David (Vickie), Jeff (Judy), Sara (Ernie); her eight grandchildren Rogan (Jessica), Wynston, Kristin (Nathan), Matthew (Chrissie), Lindsay (Peter), Jocelyn (Michael), Larissa (Darin), Evan; and her six great grandchildren Alice, Norah, Penelope, James, Poppy and Maren.

Vera was born on June 23, 1928 in Eatonia, Saskatchewan. Shortly thereafter she moved to Kamsack, Saskatchewan until she was 16 years old, when she and her family moved to East Kildonan in Winnipeg. Upon graduation from high school she worked for the Royal Bank of Canada where she met her future husband Bill McLean. Vera and Bill were married on October 8th, 1949 at John Black Memorial United Church in Winnipeg. Vera and Bill (as a Royal Bank manager) along with their family lived in a number of Manitoba communities including Winnipeg, Brandon, Portage la Prairie, Rivers, Melita, and Beausejour.
Eventually, Vera moved to Concordia Village in Winnipeg where she developed a host of new and dear friends, enjoying many hours of laughter with them over funny quotes, table conversations, and events.

Vera was ‘art’. She lived and breathed an artistic talent from an early age, writing articles and drawing sketches as a teenager for the local Kamsack newspaper. She grew into a love of art and crafts in all forms, and became proficient and expert in drawing, painting (in oils, acrylics, water colours, pastel and ink), pottery, tole painting, rosemaling, quilting, puppetry, decoupage, weaving, knitting, macrame, batik, and stitchery. Her creations can be found in private homes and businesses throughout Manitoba. Vera opened her own ‘Boodle Shop’ showcasing all her various forms of arts and crafts in Beausejour in 1977, later turning it into a Teddy Bear Museum. While in Beausejour she was known for her window painting on commercial businesses, and as the ‘Teddy Bear Lady’. Vera began collecting and making Teddy Bears in 1969 and at one point had over 600 teddy bears in her collection. She loved to share her passion for Teddy Bears with children and adults alike. She took an active role in all the communities she lived in; as a member of Beta Sigma Phi Sorority and quilting clubs, performing puppet shows, teaching art classes, and numerous other activities.

Vera spent many summers at her ‘Cobweb’ cottage in Matlock beach, entertaining friends and family, sailing in her Snark, and continuing to create new art objects and paint. Most of all, she enjoyed spending time with her children and grandchildren, playing and laughing with them during many games and crafts. She took several trips with Bill to Europe and the Caribbean, and after Bill’s passing traveled to Ireland, England, Mexico and China on her own, making new friends in each place. Vera’s sense of humour was evident each day, with her crazy decorations, jokes, and funny quotes she would post for others to enjoy. She leaves a strong legacy of a passion for fun in life.

Vera was once heard to quote ‘I Tried to be Normal Once, worst two minutes of my life’.

Thank you to Misericordia Health Centre, Concordia Hospital and the Kildonan Personal Care Centre for making Vera’s last days comfortable.

In lieu of flowers, if friends so wish, donations in Vera’s memory may be made to the Manitoba Heart and Stroke Foundation, 1379 Kenaston Blvd, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3P 0Y4 http://www.heartandstroke.ca

Please join us in a Celebration of Life for Vera at 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, October 9th, 2018 at Sobering Funeral Chapel, 1035 Park Avenue E., Beausejour.

www.soberingfuneralchapel.com

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