Obituary of Charlotte Frew Clay-Ireland
Charlotte Clay-Ireland – Her Life and Legacy
Charlotte was born on May 9th, 1951, in Ottawa, Ontario to parents, Charles and Cecile Clay, and she was their only child. People who knew Charlotte understood why the written word was meaningful to her and part of her birthright.
Her father, Charles Clay, was a writer and publisher, born in Landis, Saskatchewan, and a graduate of the University of Manitoba. He became a Fellow of both the American and Canadian Geographical Societies and worked as a reporter and literary editor for the Winnipeg Free Press.
He also wrote and published several works of fiction, a book about his experiences living for three years among the Cree of northern Manitoba, three juvenile novels about the fur trade and an adult novel based on the theme of conservation. Before Charlotte was born, the Clays moved to Ottawa, where Charles worked as a journalist and press consultant to prominent members of parliament.
What Brought The Clay’s to Bewdley?
Charles Clay left this stressful career and was looking for a healthier lifestyle job. After moving his family from Ottawa, briefly to Napanee, found it when he settled his family in the village of Bewdley on Rice Lake in 1957 when Charlotte was six years old.
Charlotte grew up in a home built in 1914 by a wealthy Great Gatsby-type from Toronto, which her parents converted into the Pine Ridge Tourist Lodge.
Charlotte’s love of Bewdley and Rice Lake comes from sharing its beauty with others from this experience.
In Bewdley, the Clay’s became involved in the publishing business and first published the Rice Lake Tourist Guide, which Charlotte continued publishing until 2020.
Charlotte made this publication grow to over 4,000 subscribers, as far away as Guatemala, Mozambique and Zambia. She also attended several tourism shows, distributing the guide and promoting her beloved Rice Lake.
Her Youth and Political Hayday
Charlotte’s parents instilled in her the importance of community and giving back.
The very first Board position that she accepted was to be a member of the Firefighter Association for Bewdley. She was the first woman to hold this position, and it wasn’t long after that she ran for a seat on the local municipal council.
Charlotte served for three terms as Councillor, becoming the first woman to hold the position of Reeve in 1989 for Hamilton Township. She was also elected to serve as the Warden for Northumberland County in December of 1994. It was during these years that she was very proud to represent both Hamilton Township, and Northumberland County on the Rural Ontario Municipal Association, becoming its Chairperson in 1996.
After 20 years of service, Charlotte said farewell to Hamilton Township politics retiring from public life in November 1997.
She Did Not Retire For Long
In 2020, Valmay Barkey, the Executive Director of Community Care Kawartha Lakes, approached Charlotte to accept a contract, as their new Accessible Transportation Coordinator. This contract was the beginning of providing accessible transportation to residents in Kawartha Lakes. Like everything done by Charlotte, she organized everything. She managed the drivers and the budget. She promoted the service, built its ridership and even developed routes. She became an accessibility transportation expert.
After some year, driving to Lindsay was a bit of a commute so when she was approached by Community Care Northumberland to develop the same program for Northumberland County, Charlotte made the move to work out of its Port Hope office. She worked in the office three days a week and at home two days a week.
In December 2009, with one van, Charlotte launched an accessible transportation program in Northumberland County. As those who knew Charlotte, she did not rest on her laurels. She expanded this program in August 2012 with a new van after approaching Hamilton Township and the Northumberland United Way in March 2012, to help fund the expansion of this affordable service to this area.
She continued to grow and manage this program until she retired from Community Care Northumberland in 2017.
In her second retirement, Charlotte began her passion project, a book called Rice Lake Reflections.
Inheriting an extensive collection of newspaper clippings concerning local history from her father, Charlotte published her book about the history of her beloved Rice Lake in 2019. In true Charlotte fashion, she asked me to remind everyone that copies are still available.
The Other Passion of Her Life, Her Family and Bill
Charlotte and Bill were destined for each other and their lives intersected many times over the years. They first got to know each other driving on the same bus to high school.
As they say, opposites attract. Charlotte was a talker, while Bill was quiet. Charlotte sat near the front of the bus while Bill and his buddies sat at the back. Charlotte went to West Cobourg high school while Bill went to the East. Bill was more of a rebel, Charlotte was not – well not openly anyways! Bill at one time even worked for Charlotte’s parents at their resort before becoming a local fireman.
As years drift on, Bill married another and had a daughter, Julie but their lives crossed paths again when Bill was organizing the Firefighter’s Bass Fishing Tournament on Rice Lake and Charlotte was on Council. Charlotte helped Bill, to organize all the details and the committee.
Bill was divorced, and Charlotte was single, and with all the time they spent together, their friendship was renewed, which kindled into love and marriage in 1988.
Bill became Charlotte’s constant companion and as Bill would say – she needed me to carry her stuff because even for a two-night stay, Charlotte packed three suitcases.
Together they had many adventures, this included 22,000 kilometres on their Gold Wing motorcycle with the Port Hope Gold Wings Club, travelling with many other couples. No matter what they were doing, they were always having fun.
Charlotte leaves behind her husband Bill and her daughter, Julie, who is married to Mark. She also has three grandchildren. Karen is a doctor, a chiropodist. Zackary, who should have been born in the ’60s and is a dedicated, music buff and the youngest, Brandan, 19 whose life is just beginning.
They, Like You, Will Remember Her Fondly
At five foot, she stood tall. She was a trailblazer for women, being the first many times, and before it was cool. She loved to tell stories and share her thoughts. She was always dressed well, put together and coordinated. Charlotte loved bright colours, never wearing black. She loved sunflowers, lived her life with laughter and among positive words. She was never afraid to try something new and loved funky and hip things – right down to her neon green converse shoes.
She always finished what she started. She fought hard for what she believed in, and always for the underdog. If she was passionate about something, she wouldn’t stop until is done.
I know that you will hear her voice when you hear – ANYHOO, it’s a bump in the road, we will muddle away, and of course, my personal favourite, suck it up, buttercup!
Charlotte gave more than she took, put her community at the forefront and always welcomed people to share her beloved Bewdley and Rice Lake.
She peacefully passed away in NHH’s palliative care unit on August 28th, 2021, with her family at her side. Under the care of Dr. Mule (and as Charlotte said – he’s from New York City, you know!) and the nursing team, who kept her comfortable until the end.
I want to thank the Ireland family, you shared your precious time with Charlotte with us over the years. Please remember her lasting legacy in the community, the many lives she has touched and the positive impact that she had on so many, and for those lucky few, who are proud to call her friend.
Alicia Vandine
1951 2021
Nos plus sincères sympathies à la famille et aux amis de Charlotte Frew
Clay-Ireland 1951 2021..
Décès pour la Ville:Port-Hope, Province: Ontario