September 26, 1917 – February 18, 2015
LeWarne, Alice Elizabeth – died peacefully on February 18, 2015, at Idlewyld Manor, Hamilton, Ontario at the age of 97 years. She was born on September 26, 1917, the second daughter of George and Winifred LeWarne, in Mount Forest, Ontario. She is predeceased by her sister, Jane (1992). She graduated from Stratford Teachers’ College and from Queen’s University, Kingston, and taught for 34 years, primarily for the Hamilton-Wentworth Board of Education, before retiring. Betty was an avid bird watcher, a weaver, an amateur photographer, painter, an extensive world traveller and a maker of Cloisonne jewellery. She was honoured for her work by the Artisan’s Guild and by the Field Naturalists of Hamilton area. She will be sadly missed by several cousins in Jarvis, & Peterborough, Ontario, Vancouver, Lethbridge, Calgary, ( Alberta), and in Palo Alto, California, as well as many friends. There will be a Memorial Service to honour her life on Friday, April 10, 2015 at Binkley United Church, 1570 Main St. West, Hamilton, followed by interment in Little Lake Cemetery in Peterborough, Ontario on April 11, at 11:30 a.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Idlewyld Manor, 449 Sanatorium Road, Hamilton, ON L9C 2A7, Binkley United Church, 1570 Main Street West, Hamilton, ON L8S 1E8 or Frontier College, 35 Jackes Avenue, Toronto, ON M4T 1E2.
It was with sadness that I read of Miss LeWarne’s passing. As a former student at Dalewood (1964-1966), I would have to say that Miss LeWarne enriched my appreciation of art in a way that otherwise would have been absent.
In her classes at the time, your art mark was based on your art skill in replicating an artist or technique which was equally weighted with a quiz mark. The quiz mark for each term was based on notes that you had recorded after viewing some pictures and usually a large lithographic example of a specific artist’s work, such as a great Dutch master’s work, a Group of Seven artist, Picasso’s cubism style or a work done by Michelangelo. A lesson about the time period and influences on the artist’s style followed and then a board note was then recorded in your art notebook.
As my artistic skills were lacking, my only chance for a B- in art was to study hard for the quiz.
My artistic skills – sadly, little improvement. My lifelong appreciation and enjoyment of classical and early Canadian artists -huge. Thank you Miss LeWarne.
My favourite teacher. She taught me (twice), grade four at Fairfield school in 1944, and an art class
at Delta High School in 1949. The last time I saw her was a chance meeting in Peterborough during a summer vacation.