Maudlin Matilda McEwan

Passed away peacefully in the Lord on Tuesday, June 23, 2015 at the age of 81. Loving mother of Donna (Dennis Neil), Paulette (Bryan D. Williams), Melodie (Carl Wilson Jr. Esq.), Rudolph, Jr. (Loretta McEwan). She is also survived by her grandchildren, Crystal, Vanessa, Sheldon, Tiffany, Nyla and Prestige and great-grandchildren; Avionah, Laila, Reigan-Sijourney. Visitation will be held at McEvoy-Shields Funeral Home, 1411 Hunt Club Rd (at Albion Road), Ottawa on Thursday, July 2, 2015 from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Home Going Service on Friday, July 3, 2015 at 10 a.m. at Rhema Christian Ministries, 1550 Chatelain Ave., Ottawa. ON. Interment Hope Cemetery.

Our beloved Maudlin Matilda Russell McEwan was born in Ulster Spring, Trelawnney, Jamaica West Indies to her loving mother Maudlin Matilda McFarlane and father Robert William Russell on October 4, 1933. She was the third born child of her siblings: Robert Samuel Russell Jr. and the late Vincent Russell. The Russell family attended Beulah Tabernacle Church in Long Bay where her Father was the founder, entrepreneur and ordained Bishop. Beulah Tabernacle Church was only one of the founding churches of the Russell family. Bishop Russell was also founder of two other churches in Kingston, Jamaica. It was in this Godly family atmosphere where she received her first encounters into the Kingdom of God and her relationship with her Heavenly Father. She loved her Mother dearly and wanted to go everywhere her Mother went. Unfortunately, both her parents had passed away by the time she was 14 years of age.

Like her mother, Maudlin Matilda McFarlane, Maudlin followed in her mother's steps as she played the piano, and the panama Scottish pipes. She created hats of all shapes and styles. She crocheted table place mats and doilies with detail roses of various colors and starched them with a professional touch. Mother McEwan loved the water and often swam with her two brothers in the Caribbean Sea near their home. She was an excellent swimmer and was known by her children as one who swam buoyantly and smoothly like a fish. She lived only 3/4 miles east of Long Bay, where she walked each Sunday right along the sea coast to her Father's church, where she spent most of her time.

Maudlin was the personification of love and loving. As a child she loved animals. They had a farm of pigs, cows, goats, chickens and while she did not have to care for them herself, she avidly participated in caring for all the animals as though they were her own. She was their overseer; her spirit of oversight and care extended beyond her home in Jamaica. It was in the year 1964, that she fearlessly and courageously with her three children, Donna, Paulette and Melodie emigrated to join her husband Rudolph Lloyd McEwan Sr. who had already prepared the way and settled in Ottawa, Canada upon hearing of the wide opportunities available for new settlers.

It is no surprise that Maudlin was a trailblazer for newcomers! It was not long after that they were established in their first home on Morisset Avenue located near the Experimental Farm that they began to freely welcome other immigrants to stay at her home until they became established. She looked out for other people and wanted to know how they were doing. She invited many a stranger to eat at her table, and always made sure that there was ample food cooked to share with others. Maudlin was not one to hold back anything that would benefit the needs of others. She would give up the beds of her children to help, so that a friend could have a good night's sleep. She would get up early and cook her best potage, ackee and salt fish, fired dumplings, yams, rice and peas and other Jamaican delicacies. Saturday morning were great! She rescued many from difficult and trying times. She was an angel sent by God to meet the needs of many.

Students in high academic standing, like Mother McEwan, were applauded in the West Indies. At the University of Cambridge, Kingston JA, Maudlin, through her brilliance, enduring perseverance, faith and passion for knowledge attained outstanding credentials. Some of which are: Excellence in English Literature, Religious Knowledge, British and European History, Geography, Latin, Hygiene and Physiology. All of these accolades and more were bestowed upon her in 1951, by the University of Cambridge - Excelsior School.

In 1969, Mother McEwan co-founded the Emmanuel Apostolic Church along with her husband Pastor Rudolph McEwan Sr. Preparing for weekday services was a collaborative effort between Father, Mother and children. Each week, without fail, Mother McEwan prepared the home for guests who came to her home from near and far to hear the anointed Word of God. She also gave clear instructions to her children to work alongside her by bringing chairs upstairs from the basement in anticipation of an overflow. As the church grew by leaps and bounds, so did her destined assignment and calling to the ministry of Evangelism, church leadership, which she learned from her Father, and administration.

She was a naturally skilled mover and shaker in business related activities. As such, she served as head of finance, fund raising, and women's ministries. She was the first church pianist and choir director. With her gifts being clearly evident, Mother McEwan in the year 1972 was ordained a Minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ at the Emmanuel Apostolic Church in accordance with Biblical qualifications and thereby was given license to preach. In addition, she also received her Certificate of Ordination as an Evangelist and Missionary. Mother McEwan took a hiatus when after several attempts and unfortunate miscarriages she miraculously conceived and gave birth to her first and only beloved son Rudolph Anthony Sylvester McEwan Jr. at the age of 44. The family rejoiced with her, dancing and shouting for joy in the streets.

In the light of this change, one thing remained - her commitment and love for the service of the Lord and His people. Therefore, on August 11, 1998, Maudlin McEwan was also appointed Senior Missionary of the Church of our Lord Jesus Christ of the Apostolic Faith Inc. (COOJC) as recommend to the saints by the Apostles, Bishops and Elders. In the year 2000, Maudlin McEwan also attended and successfully completed a three year course study at the Ottawa Lay School of Theology. Maudlin had an energetic and gusto zeal for life! She was a strong family advocate and prolific public speaker. She maintained the highest positions of employment with the Government of Canada, beginning with her role of administrative secretary at the Confederation Building in Ottawa, Ontario. Very few secretarial assistants knew what she knew for she brought with her skills like none other, such as: accuracy in shorthand, and knowledge of the Latin language. She was a seasoned employee of the Government of Canada and remained there for over 30 years.

The world was made so much better by Maudlin! We will miss her, but through Christ we will see her again - Hallelujah! She is survived by her children, Donna Marie Neil (Dennis Roy Neil), Paulette Ann Williams (Bryan Dave Williams), Melodie Dawn Wilson (Carl Clarence Wilson Jr.), Rudolph Anthony Sylvester McEwan Jr. (Lorette Naomi McEwan): and by sibling: Robert Samuel Russell Jr. (Jewell Russell).

She is also survived by her grandchildren, Crystal Melissa Neil, Vanessa Ann Williams, Sheldon Travis Roy Neil (Alicia S. Neil), Tiffany Kaye Ellis (Jelani G. Ellis), Nyla Kathryn McEwan, Prestige Joelle McEwan. She is also survived by her great grandchildren Avionah Mai Williams-Mawaka, Laila-Brielle Ann Ellis, Reigan-Sijourney Donna May Neil and a host of other relatives, nieces, nephews and cousins.

Special thanks to family, friends and caregivers for all of your love, support and prayers especially to Emmanuel Apostolic Church, Rhema Canada, Lighthouse Christian Centre, the Church of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the McEvoy-Shields Funeral Home and Chapel, The Glebe Centre and the Elizabeth Bruyere Hospice (Maudlin's end-of-life caregivers), and all that have cared for and loved our Mother over her lifetime - We thank you!