Music scores, Chinese brass, clothes straight out of Toronto's jazz clubs in the 1970s, antique furniture and a red, convertible, vintage Jaguar are some of the things collected by Collingwood resident Dorothee Anne McLean as she lived her life.
Her husband was a musician. She was an air hostess for American Airlines and Pan American Air and ran the Admiral's Club for American Airlines. She made the Toronto society pages while she was still in high school as a local social who's who, and she frequented Toronto jazz clubs the Spaghetti House, The Colonial, Bourbon Street, Montreal Bistro where she was always a fashion icon in vintage clothing, dancing and loving every minute.
A boyfriend in her teenage years got her hooked on sports cars and the Jaguar was a gift from McLean's late husband, Ian, for her 50th birthday.
Now, at 86, McLean has moved into a local nursing home, unable to live alone because of Alzheimer's and Dementia.
Her brother, Bill Stephens, and a friend of his, Rena Schafer, have begun the work of sorting through McLean's home in Collingwood where she lived for 30 years. The home and many of McLean's possessions will be sold, with most of the proceeds going to charity after some expenses are paid.
Stephens said his sister is one of the most generous people he knows. When he took over her day-to-day bookkeeping she had no fewer than 18 monthly donations coming off her Visa card for various charities.
"She's always been very generous," said Stephens. "She always said she was blessed."
McLean is a regular supporter of the Georgian Triangle Humane Society as an animal lover, and of Sick Kids' and Collingwood General and Marine hospitals. She also volunteered at the Collingwood hospital.
Before she moved into the nursing home, McLean was regularly attending aqua-fit classes in the mornings and she skied in the winters until a few years ago, stopping to make sure she could take care of her husband while he was ill.
Stephens, who lives in Uxbridge, said his sister was a professional hostess in the air and in her home.
"She was always very friendly," said Stephens. "She really took care of you. When I would come here, I didn't have to do a thing, she's cooking and she looks after you ... she still is friendly ... she's just lost her memory."
Stephens and his other sister Maggi Lynne Stott have enlisted Schafer's help to sort through McLean's home on Osler Crescent for a content sale this weekend.
Schafer has enjoyed uncovering various treasures in the home, like unique vintage clothing, rare purple glass, home decor, sporting goods and, of course, the Jag.
The meticulously organized closets have been exciting for Schafer to go through.
"She always had a skirt to match the jacket, very stylish," said Schafer. "They don't make this stuff anymore."
McLean and Stephens' mom was an avid antique hunter, and McLean ended up with some of the pieces and a lot of the knack for finding vintage treasures.
Stephens and Schafer hope the sale of some of McLean's well-cared-for items will raise lots of money for local charities.
The contents sale will take place this weekend, July 13 and 14 from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 6 Osler Crescent. Sales will be by cash or e-transfer only.
