Dorothy Clark McClure passed away peacefully at Southlake Regional Health Centre in Newmarket, on Sunday August 19th, 2012 in her 78th year. Loving wife of late Richard (Dick) Illingworth, beloved mother of Kelly, Chris and Andrew, mother-in-law to Maria, and loving stepmother to Suzanne Bassett (Roger) and Rick Illingworth (Bernice). She was the phenomenal grandmother of Megan, Kaya and Emma McClure. She was one of Aurora’s and York Region’s most respected artists. She was honoured locally and provincially as an inspirational teacher, talented artist, and conservationist. Her work graces the homes of people here in Canada and across the globe. Over the years, Dorothy has appeared in hundreds of individual and group shows in the United States and Canada. She has been acknowledged in architectural books, and has been written about or helped write numerous publications. Her list of local, provincial and national awards and accolades are a testament to the way she always pursued her craft . In 1999, she was elected a signature member of the Colour and Form society. Other awards include many jury prizes; the Curtis Award of Excellence; the Arts and Culture Medal from the town of Aurora; the visual arts “In Celebration of Women” award from York Region; the Bicentennial Medal from the province of Ontario; and a Certificate of Achievement from the Ontario Heritage Trust. She was even named the Citizen of the Year for Aurora in 2008. As a leader, she took on such roles as President of the Historical Society and the Artisans of York, and was the Vice-President of the Willowdale Group of Artists. She was an art teacher for the York Region Board of Education, the Town of Aurora, Seneca College, the Haliburton School of the Arts, Georgina School of Fine Arts, Georgian Bay school of the Arts, the Senior’s Centre, and at workshops all over the Greater Toronto Area. She founded the Aurora Senior’s Art Group and its yearly show has been a source of great pride. She always believed in using and giving back the gifts she was blessed with. Her life, through her work, her students, her family and its own incandescent spark continues to touch the lives of all who knew her. Special thanks for all those caring people who visited, helped, loved and healed mom until the end.
A memorial service will be held at the Thompson Funeral Home, 530 Industrial Parkway South (north east corner of Yonge St. & Industrial Pkwy. S.), Aurora, on Friday, August 24 at 2pm. A celebration of life will be announced at a later date. In lieu of flowers donations to the Aurora Historical Society would be appreciated.
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