Joanne McClenaghan (nee Hummel)
It is with extreme sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved mother and grandmother, Joanne McClenaghan on May 28th, 2025, in her 81st year at Au Chateau in Sturgeon Falls, ON.
Joanne was born on October 2nd, 1944, in North Bay, ON. As a child she lived in the Niagara and Montreal area, returning to North Bay, at just 16 years of age, on her own, to live briefly with her grandparents. Despite her return to North Bay, she maintained a close relationship with her younger brother, Richard Hummel (deceased) no matter the challenges that they faced over the years.
Joanne met the love of her life, only a few years later while working as a waitress at the Delmar restaurant, when one day a handsome police officer, on patrol came in for a bite to eat. The two caught each others eye and soon fell in love, marrying on April 15th, 1963. They remained together through the ups and downs of marriage and through sickness and in health until our father, Vic McClenaghan’s passing on June 11th, 2022. Our mother had been placed just two weeks prior into long term care and we truly believe he could not live without her.
The McClenaghan clan welcomed our mother with open arms, wrapping her in unconditional love and support throughout the years. Our mother gained brothers and sisters through her in laws; Joyce Legault (deceased), Lloyd McClenaghan (deceased), Joan (Trottier) Yorke (deceased) and David McClenaghan along with their significant others. They with their children were the family our mother never had.
Our mother was a natural born caregiver to everyone. She was selfless, fiercely loyal, loving and extremely feisty. The one thing our mother always wanted to be when she grew up was a mother. She was determined to be the kind of mother she wished she had as a child. Her dream came true not once but four times when she and our father welcomed 2 boys and 2 girls: Rhonda McClenaghan (deceased), Jeffery McClenaghan (Tracy), Gregory McClenaghan (Jennifer) and their surprise Shannon Lachance (Gilles).
As a mother, she sacrificed everything, often going without herself to ensure we had everything she never did. She was the most loving mother but was also the disciplinarian despite her threats of wait till your father gets home.
Our mother taught us how to ride a bike, how to swim despite the fact that she herself did not know how too, how to fight (shoot the boots) when someone picked on us, how to stand up for ourselves especially Shannon, always ensuring she could support herself, to not take crap from anyone and to know just because she was a woman, she could do and be anything she wanted.
She made all our favorite foods, ensured that every day we had endless choices of homemade baking from cookies to donuts, to cakes and pies. She made every holiday special and as adults realized how sleep deprived, she was on Christmas mornings when she would just get to bed at 2 am to have her excited children get up at 3 am. She never sent us back to bed to wait but rolled out of bed, where the gift opening began to then begin prepping and preparing a Christmas feast, with never a word of complaint.
Our mother was the best nurse when we were sick, heating up blankets in the dryer to wrap around us, making us soups and Jello’s, giving us flatten ginger ale and popsicles to break our fevers. She tucked us in at night, kissed our bobos when we were hurt and would lay with us all night when we had our first heart breaks. She kept our secrets, had our back, taught us right from wrong.
Our mother cared for our father over the years during his numerous health struggles, living out her wish to have been a nurse. When our mother was no longer able to be the caregiver, our father stepped up and fulfilled his vows of through sickness. He stood by our mother’s side during her dementia journey.
Our mother led by example and taught us to be kind, respectful, giving and loving human beings. She volunteered throughout her life with West Ferris Ladies Rec, coaching girls soft ball, and for many years with the Community Living Friday BBQs that brought so much joy into her life.
As we grew, so did our family to include 4 grandchildren, Austin McClenaghan (Angelica), Eric, Ben and Ava Lachance. To say they were the apple of her eye would be an understatement. Known as grandma or gaga (the original) she showered them with endless love, spoiled them rotten with anything their parents wouldn’t such as pop and chocolate bars at 10 am in the morning, staying up late, teaching them swear words and growing into their own special way of saying bye and I love you – with the middle finger. She was their confidant, their playmate, their friend and their sidekick.
We feel so blessed that the grandchildren were able to make so many amazing memories with their grandma before Dementia took her away into another world. We were so fortunate that she was 100% in as a grandparent and helped shape the amazing humans they are today.
Dementia may have taken her, but our mother fought to the very end, only letting go when she was ready. She was the strongest person we have ever known. When faces became unfamiliar in front of her, names and memories locked away in her mind, she never once forgot she was a mother who loved her children, often repeating I love my babies.
We believe that wherever she is, she is free of this awful disease and has all her beautiful memories back.
We would like to take this time to thank Jean St. Pierre who was our mothers private PSW for the past 5 years. She was an amazing support and advocate for our mother, loving her dearly and we can never thank her enough for what she has done for our family.
We would also like to thank Au Chateau staff, Nurse Practitioner Jenna and Dr. Labelle for the care and compassion shown to our mother during her three years there. In times, when nursing homes are struggling to keep staff, often working short handed, they continued to give their all to ensure not only our mother, but all the other residents had the best care and support they could have.
Family receiving relatives and friends at Hillside Funeral Home, 362 Airport Road North Bay, on Saturday July 5th, 2025, from 10 am to 12 pm followed immediately with a service in celebration of our mother’s life.
In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations to the Alzheimer Society of North Bay and District or Au Chateau Family Council in honour of our beautiful mother.
Hillside Funeral Services Ltd.
