Catherine (Rena) Joyce McLean, 91, formerly of Madison and Middletown, CT, passed away peacefully on March 5, 2022, after a 10-year battle with dementia with her family by her side. Rena was born on March 8, 1930, in the town of Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada, daughter of the late Peter Gould and Mary Paul. Catherine was raised by her grandmother, Elizabeth Paul. She was the oldest and a proud member of the St. Mary’s First Nation Maliseet community in Fredericton. Catherine was a wonderful mother, wife, sister, daughter, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend. Catherine was predeceased by her late husband, Floyd McLean, on August 16, 2018, her mother, Mary Paul, father, Peter Gould, grandmother, Elizabeth Paul, siblings, Louise Ring, Carl and Raymond Gould, and a special aunt, Caroline Paul.

Catherine’s loving daughter Elaine Voss was her caregiver since August 2018. She is survived by her daughters, Cynthia Vanicky (Jay), Shirley Lovett, Elaine Voss (Alan), Nancy DiRenzo (Edward), Susan Paisley, and Robin Magruder (James), seventeen grandchildren, and twenty-six great grandchildren. 

Catherine moved to Grey, Maine in her twenty’s and later settled in Middletown, CT. She spent her life as a devoted wife and loving caring mother raising her six daughters. She enjoyed visiting family in Canada every year for as long as she was able to make the trip. Her cherished moments were the time spent with family and friends in her home on George Street in Middletown, CT. Catherine enjoyed attending social events with family and in the community. She also liked knitting, reading the newspaper, doing the daily word jumble, dancing, and listening to all types of music. Catherine was a member of the Jehovah’s Witness congregation in Middletown, CT.

The family held private services on Tuesday March 8, 2022, to recognize what would have been Catherine’s 92nd birthday. A burial service will be held in the summer in Canada where she will be laid to rest with her mother, grandmother, and aunt. In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Catherine may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association – National Office, 225 N. Michigan Ave. Floor 17, Chicago, IL 60601.