Patricia Ann McLaren-Nixon-Doiron

Patricia Ann McLaren- Nixon- Doiron (AKA Mom, Ann, Nana, great Nana) 

Passed away with family holding her hands, on April 28th, 2026. She was the last of the McLaren girls (Jeanette and Nancy) to leave us. She was the third child born to Jessie (Haig) and Donald McLaren in 1930 in Clarkson Ontario. At the age of 18, she fell madly in love with Jim Nixon, the local pharmacist. They had a pile of kids before he unfortunately died, leaving her a very young widow. She moved her young family to St. Catharine's to be near her sister and parents where her wayward children created many challenges. She tried to give them hobbies, sports, music and camping, cottaging and intellectual experiences. She also went back to university (She was tossed out of nursing school for becoming engaged!) and earned a master's degree at the State university of New York, crossing the border almost daily for years. Ann worked as a speech language pathologist (one of the pioneers in Ontario) at the Niagara rehab center and later in Toronto at Thistletown where she met Greg Doiron. They were married in 1975 and had a 40-year adventure that included moving to Alberta and loads of worldwide travel. Ann's last year was spent at Grove Park in Barrie where she was cared for wonderfully by the amazing staff, as well as some private caregivers (the lovely Vanessa and Kiki) and by the compassionate Dr. McTurk, all heroes to her family. Ann is survived by her daughter Tani (Bob) and sons Ted (Kristy) and Ron (Gen). She had six grandchildren, Jessie (Graham), Sam, Olivia, Jack, Georgia and James and two adorable Great-Grandchildren, Hanna and Albert

We will always miss her sense of humor and mischief,her loving ways, her ready advice, her enormous knowledge of sugar and her matriarchal style. A celebration of life was held in Toronto on June 7th. If you are considering a donation, we'd love it to go to Grove Park Home in Barrie.