Claudia Norah Victoria (Dewar) Montgomery

Claudia, “Claud”, was born to parents Ian Thornton Dewar and Ethel Joan Dewar (Ahearn) in Ottawa, Ontario,1945. Her childhood was spent in Oakville prior to attending Compton boarding school in Quebec.

Childhood summers were spent at the family cottage in Riviere-du-Loup on the shores of the Saint Lawrence River, “St Pats” as they call it. A childhood of a bygone era shared with her sister, Heather Luard (Dewar). The bond that Claudia and Heather shared was beyond that of sisters. It was the intertwining of true life-long friends and kindred spirits. Together they stayed in each other’s hearts throughout life from beginning until end.

Post-secondary was to be at “The Club of the Three Wise Monkeys” finishing school which brought Claudia to London, England in 1963. A pivotal time in Claudia’s life, she found the strength to break free of the path she was on and become the person she was always meant to be.

On returning from England and while attending Central Technical art school in Toronto, Rod entered her life. Their 57 years together would be spent happily and deeply in love all over the globe. They made a home that was warm and full of love, not conventional and adored by many.

Claudia and Rod would make many close friends over their life together and stay constantly connected to family.

Claudia was an artist, friend, wife and mother. Her love and friendship live on in her three children: Morgan (Claudia), Michaela (Brett), Millar (Anisa) and her six grandchildren: Finja, Jamie, Nova, Keegan, Beckett and Tilda.

She shared her vision of the world with her friends through companionship and her art.

She did not sell her art, didn’t much care for showing it and regularly painted over canvases just to have a clean surface to work on. Vibrant charcoal still life’s and pen and ink drawings lay rolled up in storage by the dozen while she relished in her paints, expressing herself and creating. She channelled pure joy when she painted and she was happiest in her studio painting the world and experiences that shaped her life.

It was a life well lived with family and friends. She was free, made her own choices and lived her life the way she wanted right until the end.

As she said, we will be reunited “in the mix”. We love you.

A Celebration of life will be held in the Sequoia Centre, at McCall Gardens, 4665 Falaise Drive, on Monday, January 16, 2023, at 2:00 pm.

Condolences may be offered to the family below.

McCall Gardens
www.mccallgardens.com