Roma CLARKE

McMILLAN, Roma July 5, 1911- July 4, 2007 At the Ottawa Civic Hospital on Wednesday, July 4, 2007, Roma McMillan (nee Clarke) of Ottawa. Beloved wife of the late Hugh McMillan. Dear mother of June (Rudy) Boulerice of Morrisburg and Joye (James) Oswald of Vankleek Hill. Beloved "Gramma Mac" of 11 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren. Predeceased by a son Roger, sisters Queenie Stuart and Freda Hawkins and brothers Douglas and James Clarke. Also survived by nieces & nephews. Roma enjoyed a long and illustrious musical career which began at an early age. As a young woman she participated in 15 broadcasts with the Montreal Philharmonic Orchestra. During her lifetime she won over 200 trophies, recorded 6 albums of fiddle music and composed many fiddle tunes including the Lake St. Lawrence Waltz and the Upper Canada Jig. She was a member of the North American Fiddler's Hall of Fame, the Ottawa Valley Country Music Hall of Fame, and she was the Founder of Mostly Bows and the Junior Bow Benders. She received the most entertaining fiddler award at the Canadian Open Championships in Shelburne in 1988 and the Canadian Grandmasters Fiddle Championship lifetime award. A highlight of her career came in the summer of 2001 when she played at Adrienne Clarkson's Governor General's Garden Party at Rideau Hall. In addition to her musical accomplishments she served as the Past Worthy Matron of the Order of the Eastern Star, Morrisburg, and the National Secretary of the Federated Women's Institute of Canada. A Celebration of Roma's life will be held at the Greely Community Centre on Sunday, July 8th at 2 p.m. Following the service everyone is invited to bring their instruments to participate in a musical tribute from 3-5 p.m. Donations to Winchester Hospital would be gratefully acknowledged by the family. Arrangements entrusted to the Marsden and McLaughlin Funeral Home, Williamsburg (613-535-2339). Published in the Ottawa Citizen from 7/6/2007 - 7/7/2007