MacLean, Audrey

Surrounded by her family on Saturday July 6th, 2024 Audrey Campbell MacLean passed away peacefully at the age of 90. Predeceased by her loving husband Neill MacLean. Loving daughter of the late Andrew and Cecilia Aitken and dear sister of the late Irene McDonald. Loving mother to Robert Drew MacLean (Julie) and James Gregory MacLean (Kim), proud grandmother to Joshua, Cecilia, Miranda, Charlotte, Caitlin and great-grandmother to Elise, Liam and Olivia.

Audrey was born in Glasgow, Scotland in 1934 and came to Canada during the Second World War with her family. Audrey lived a very successful life surrounded by her loving family and cherished friends. Audrey attended the Glasgow School of Fine Art, The Nova Scotia College of Art and Dalhousie University. She was the former Executive Director at the Oshawa Senior Citizens Centre and the Alzheimer Society of Durham. She was elected the Durham Board of Education for three successive terms including the office of Chairman of the board. As a freelance writer she wrote extensively about the development of the arts and artists working in the community including several years as an art critic to the former Oshawa Times.

She was a dedicated community volunteer and served as a Charter board member of Denise House, Durham Shoestring Performers and the Oshawa Art Association and as Chairman Durham M.S. Society and as director of VON, Grandview Children's Centre, The Robert McLaughlin Gallery, Whitby Arts Station Gallery and the Oshawa Public Library. Audrey won the awards for community service as Oshawa Jaycees Outstanding Young Canadian for her work with the elderly and the YMCA Women of Distinction in the workplace and recipient of the 125th Queens commemorative medal.

Throughout her adult life she continued to paint and exhibit extensively and established Oshawa's first private gallery dedicated to showing the work of Durham artists. For several years she served as Director of The Lindsay Gallery. She retired in 1999 to focus on her painting full time. Ten years later she was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease and became an active advocate for individuals living with the movement disorder. She adjusted her lifestyle by downsizing her studio to accommodate her ability to paint. There will be a small service in Prince Edward Island along with her late husband Neill MacLean. In memoriam donations to the Parkinsons and Alzheimer's Society is appreciated.