Anne Renaud McKay
Wife, mother, sister, friend, nurse, shopkeeper. Born July 29, 1930, in Ottawa. Died Feb. 23, 2011, in Brantford, Ont., of multiple health issues, aged 80.
Born in 1930 in Ottawa and raised in Montreal, Anne's childhood was shaped by the Depression and the Second World War. She was one of five children of Harry and Dot (Dorothy) Renaud. Though always comfortable, Anne recounted stories of a childhood where life was frugal, then coloured by the war effort.
Schooled at Montreal's Villa Maria, the nuns shaped Anne's values and strong sense of responsibility. Blissful summers were spent in Knowlton, Que.
Afflicted with polio as a child, Anne pursued a career in nursing at Montreal General Hospital, forging many lifelong friendships. After graduation, she joined the naval reserve, where she met Allan McKay.
Married in 1958, Anne and Allan began a family at their new home in Buckingham, Que. In 1966, they returned to Montreal, family complete with five children: Micheline, Martha, Andrew, Angus and Malcolm.
In 1967, life took an adventurous turn when Allan was transferred. Leaving the heady excitement of Expo 67 behind, the family moved to Somerset, England. Anne came to love the country. She filled her house with treasures found at auctions and rummage sales, Allan eventually resigning himself to accept her notion that a dollar and a pound were at par.
Just days before the family's scheduled return to Canada, with their home sold and belongings packed, Anne was diagnosed with Crohn's disease. With five young children, no house and no extended family, Anne was admitted for surgery and a long hospital stay. She and Allan found a temporary home for their children in St. Edith's, the local orphanage; Allan moved to a local hotel. The family adapted and made the best of a difficult situation. For Anne, it was a defining moment marked by both sadness and humour.
A planned return to Toronto was thwarted by a further extension to the family's stay in England, then a diversion to Placentia Bay, Nfld. Anne led the family on regular trips to St. John's for shopping or a visit to the Arts and Culture Centre.
In 1973, Anne and Allan settled in Ayr, Ont. Never one to let grass grow under her feet, Anne purchased the local men's wear shop over a bet during a bridge game. The Homespun Shops of Ayr and Paris were born. A family business in every way, The Homespun flourished for 27 years as a quality women's and children's wear shop, built around Anne's joie de vivre and generous personality.
On retiring, Anne focused on her family, books and her love of the arts. Though increasingly challenged by health issues, she never tired of getting dressed up with Allan for a visit to the theatre or symphony. Her style never left her - you could always find her by the hat.
By Micheline and Angus McKay, Anne's daughter and son.