April 9, 1946 – October 25, 2026
Ethel Elvie Miner Clare was born in Clinton, Ontario, to Reverend William Stewart Miner and Cora Lillian Trewartha. She grew up alongside her siblings, Patricia Elaine, who married David Milliken; Charles Edgar, who married Nancy Rutherford; and John Stewart, who married Laurel Hodgert. Family was an important part of Ethel’s life, and the connections she shared with those she loved remained a meaningful part of her journey.
Ethel attended university in Hamilton, Ontario, where she pursued her education and trained to become a laboratory technologist. Her career began in Baie Verte, Newfoundland, where she worked as a lab technologist and met the love of her life, Sanford Thomas Clare. The two were married on Oct. 10, 1970, at Thames Road United Church, beginning a loving partnership that would shape the course of their lives.
Following their marriage, Ethel and Sanford settled in Kincardine, Ontario, where they began their family. They welcomed four daughters: Catherine Anne, Mary Elizabeth, Christy Elaine, and finally, Heather Jennifer. In 1982, the family moved to Fort Frances, Ontario, where they spent the next twelve years raising their daughters and building treasured family memories.
Ethel was a lifelong learner who believed that education and personal growth should never end. Her curiosity and willingness to embrace new opportunities led her along an interesting and varied career path. After working as a laboratory technologist, she became a Diabetes Educator in Fort Frances, helping others through education and support.
In her fifties, Ethel embarked on another significant chapter in her life, returning to university to pursue her calling to ministry. She earned a Master of Divinity from Emmanuel College in 2000 and was ordained as a United Church minister. She served congregations in Belgrave, Ontario, and later in Sparta-Union, Ontario. Ethel found great meaning in serving her congregations and sharing her faith with others. After years of dedicated service, she retired in 2011, having made a lasting contribution to the communities she served.
Ethel lived a full and remarkable life. Creative, adventurous, and always eager to try something new, she enjoyed a wide variety of hobbies and artistic pursuits. Knitting, crocheting, beading, doll making, glasswork, photography, and card making were among her many interests. Her creativity reflected her curious spirit and her appreciation for the beauty and possibilities that surrounded her.
Her adventurous nature also took her around the world. Ethel travelled extensively, exploring places that included India, the Holy Land, Europe, Iceland, New Zealand, Ecuador, and the Arctic, among many others. She was never afraid to step outside her comfort zone, experiencing extraordinary adventures along the way. Among her memorable experiences were travelling on the back of a dogsled and photographing a polar bear in the wild. These adventures captured Ethel’s enthusiasm for discovery and her desire to experience all that life had to offer.
One of Ethel’s greatest joys was her family, especially her grandchildren, whom she loved dearly. She was a beloved grandmother to Nathan, Andrew, and Michael Clare-Green; Ashley, Taylor, and Brandon Croswell; and Christopher and Joshua Fernandes. She also leaves behind her sons-in-law, Trevor Croswell, Brent Fernandes, and Rob Stauffert, who were part of the extended family she cherished.
Ethel’s life was defined by love, learning, faith, creativity, and adventure. She embraced change, pursued her passions, served others, and continued to grow throughout her life. Whether exploring a distant corner of the world, creating something beautiful with her hands, supporting her congregations, or spending time with her family, she approached life with curiosity and determination.
Ethel leaves behind a legacy of devotion to family, a commitment to lifelong learning, and the courage to follow new paths at every stage of life. Her many experiences, the people she touched, and the memories she created will continue to live on in the hearts of those who knew and loved her.
She will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered.
