Chatty Lee

The Lee family sadly announces that Annie Charlotte Lee, known to all since she was a little child as Chatty, passed away peacefully surrounded by family at the Queensway Carleton Hospital on April 7, 2023. She was married for 63 years to William M. (Bill) Lee. She was the rock, the glue, the centre of our family and she is missed overwhelmingly by her children: Craig Lee (Diane), Cathy Clyne (Barry), Candy Warren, and Randy Lee (Brooke).

Chatty was a wonderful and inspirational Nana to 11 grandchildren: James Warren; Eric-Michel, Ariane, Julien and Camille Lee; Cory and Kevin Warren and Chelsea McNamara; and Damon, Brandon and Kristin Lee. She adored her 7 great-grandchildren.

Chatty was born in Pittenweem, Scotland. She immigrated to Owen Sound, ON at age 2, along with her mother Jean, father Thomas (Mac) McUtchen, a global sailor, and baby brother, Innes. After her father’s last ship, the Manasoo, was lost in a gale on Georgian Bay when Chatty was just 3, the remaining three McUtchens moved to Hamilton where Chatty went to school and, while still a child, watched over Innes and made meals while her mother worked to support the family.

Chatty and Bill met in high school in Hamilton when she was 14, he 17, and they were together constantly until Bill’s passing in 2011. Afterwards, she insisted on living alone in their Barrhaven house (with help towards the end from all four children and her caregiver and companion, Jackie Shields) until a week or so before she died, just shy of her 96th birthday.

Chatty lived on her own terms: always positive, loving, never a cross word or criticism for anyone, uncomplaining through life’s various medical and other challenges. She steadfastly supported Bill and his careers in the RCAF, politics and business, which included uprooting her young family and moving to RCAF Base Metz (in France) for four years in the 1950s.

Her strong, uncomplaining, hard-working attitude carried her throughout her life. She made the world a better place for everyone she touched, and always put others' interests before her own. She was a proud Scot who loved watching all sports, especially Senators hockey and horse racing. She was a life-long Hamilton Tiger Cats fan.

Chatty is fondly remembered by her sister-in-law Shirley Wands of Burlington, ON, who Chatty always said she considered more of a close sister than a sister-in-law; and her cherished hairdresser of 55 years Murray Shaikin. Also by many friends, including locals and Snowbirds from their many years wintering in Florida. Bill and Chatty's Venice, FL "riots" (cocktail parties) were legendary!

A celebration of Chatty’s life will be held on May 23, 2023, from 5 to 7 pm at Stonebridge Golf Club in Barrhaven, 68 Hawktree Ridge, Ottawa (Nepean), ON.

Chatty would appreciate expressions of sympathy in the form of donations to the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) or to a charity of your choice.