In Loving Memory
of
Ewen McDonald

Service
MONDAY 2ND NOVEMBER 2020. COMMENCING AT 11:00 A.M.

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A Funeral service for
Ewen McDonald will be held at
David W Bull Pakenham Funeral Home
190 Princes Highway, Pakenham on
Monday 2nd November 2020
commencing at 11:00 a.m
A private cremation will follow.

Should you wish to send your personal condolences
to the family, please leave a message on the
“Leave a condolence” link located on this page.

Condolences / Guest Book

  1. My dearest Rosemary, Magnus and family. I wish to convey my heartfelt condolences to you all. Ewen was such a wonderful, intellectual, generous, gentle giant. I was so so honoured to have him as my mentor/go to all those years ago when I first arrived to Australia from Éire almost 16yrs ago. I felt so intimidated by his intellect, that I was initially very nervous around him but over time it didn’t become an issue, as Ewen was never the type to belittle anyone. He was such a fantastic Clinician too and much to learn from. A beautiful man with an amazing mind and such an artistic flair. He will be truly, truly missed by all who knew him. He was truly very blessed to have Rosemary by his side also.

    Catherine Woods
  2. My sincere condolences to Ewen’s family. My colondences to Rosemary.
    I met Ewen when I had just turned 19. We went in and out of each others lives for just under 50 years. Always friends, I will remember his wit, intelligence and caring nature. Vale Ewen. Helen

    Helen Fanning
  3. Dearest Rosemary and family, I am so sorry to hear of this loss. I am so grateful to have known Ewan and to have worked with him. He was such a kind, warm and generous man. He always had a smile and a quick 1 liner. My life is better for having known him.Sending all my love. Janet XXX

    Janet Hadow
    • Dear Rosemary. We were so sad to receive the news this morning of Ewan’s death. We only knew Ewan for a few years but we have prayed for him and you while Ewan was going through chemo and radiation. It has been a tough time. You have loved him well in sickness and in health. We have known you for many years, since 1978 in Kenya and have share the ups and downs of our lives since then.
      May God give you his peace in the midst of this painful time. We will be with you in spirit on the day of Ewan’s funeral as we watch via live streaming. We send you special love.
      Logan and Val, Sydney.

      Logan and Valerie Ritchie
  4. Rosemary our love and prayers are with you today and in the days ahead.Your loving Father will be your comfort and strength. God bless. Love Graeme and Julia

    Graeme and Julia Cann
  5. Rosemary and Ewen’s family we’re so sorry to hear of Ewen’s passing. Thinking of you at such a sad time. Was always good to my dad. RIP Ewen.

    Ronda Manhire & Graham Symons
  6. Dear cousin Rose,
    I am so sorry to hear the news of Ewen’s passing. This is very sad and you must be feeling much grief in saying goodbye. I have lovely memories of your wedding and seeing your happiness together. I wish I could have known him better.
    Thank you for the invitation to his funeral. It will be an honour to be with you at this time via the link.
    I am sending my warmest virtual hugs until I can give you these in person.
    Love from Ro

    Ro Roberts
  7. Dear Rosemary and family

    I was so sad to hear of your loss of Ewen.
    You have had difficult times through Ewen’s illness but I am sure you will have many happy memories of good times. May these give you strength and comfort.
    Thinking of you all.

    Rosemary Heath
  8. Dear Rosemary and family, we send a big hug to you at this time. I have such fond memories of visiting yourself and Ewen at your beautiful bush home. Our prayers are with you and we are so grateful to have met Ewen.

    Jankovic Family
  9. Dear Rosemary, We felt a great sadness in hearing of Ewens passing away. We understand that he enriched your life in many ways, as you enriched his. We really feel for the loss of Ewen, such a creative and inspirational man, in your life. We hope that your faith and the love of family surrounding you will be a comfort at this time. Love, your cousin, Laurel and Richard xx

    Laurel Warhurst
  10. I met Ewen almost forty-six years ago. Since this time, I have been proud to call him a friend. He was always generous with his time, advice and hospitality. Ewen’s vision for the world was one where the current inequalities didn’t exist.

    Over recent years we rarely met but I knew you were there.

    My deepest sympathy to Ewen’s family and other friends.

    Trevor Astbury
  11. Dear Rosemary and family
    Deepest condolences – Geraldine and I are thinking of you all at this time and offer full support.
    Ewen was such a generous, thoughtful and knowledgeable person who was loved widely.
    He loved a debate. We will all miss him.
    Love Geraldine & your brother Phil (otherwise known as Mac)

    Phil Roberts
  12. It is indeed sad news to learn of Ewen’s death. He was a much admired man for his principles, love of nature and humanity in all guises, especially supporting those with mental health issues for so many years. He is also remembered for his artistic flair in pottery, his love of vintage motors and most recently the beautiful home and garden he and Rosemary created. May he rest in peace now. My sincere love and condolences to Rosemary and Ewen’s family. He is sadly missed.

    Ruth Russell
  13. Ewen was one of the first to welcome me to PTS and in those early days he was a great support and font of knowledge. Seriously the amount stored in that brain of his, his head should have been the size of the MCG. Good hearted and fair and a wee bit intimidating at times, but he was not afraid to challenge the status quo either. Wicked sense of humour and cheeky to boot. Im sure wherever he is now hes in no doubt running the place to his level of efficiency and mayhem. Ewen has left a hole in many of our lives but I am grateful that he was with us for the time he was. Never a man to sit still when he could be climbing up on the roof or working on his car. Rosie, Magnus and family I send you love and condolences as we raise a glass to the big fella.

    Stacie Paolini
  14. My dear old mate Ewen,
    I will always remember the Class of ‘69 where we met all those years ago and our enduring friendship that was rekindled a few years ago. It was so good to enjoy some of your precious time with you in recent times. My wife Jude and I will always remember the intelligent and strong person you were, and the sense of humour you carried with you throughout your life. You will always be remembered my friend.
    Nick Stella

    Nick Stella
  15. Dear Rosemary I was so sorry to hear of Ewen’s passing. He was such a wonderful person. Big hugs to you at this sad time.
    Regards Sandra

    Sandra Hudson
  16. Rosemary you and your family have been very much in our thoughts throughout Ewans battle with Cancer, and subsequent demise. He was so lucky to have you by his side, and you to have him in your life, although not for long enough. Feel our caring support for you in this time of great sadness. Jenny & Peter xx

    Jenny Harkin
  17. Our deepest sympathy to Rosemary, Magnus and families. I can’t and don’t want to believe that he is gone. Taken way too soon and ironically because of his selfless service as a volunteer firefighter in the CFA. Our dear friend Ewen was an amazingly accomplished person. He was an absolute font of knowledge on most things, politics, history, art, war etc etc. He was thoughtful, loving and caring. Ewen was highly motivated, a high achiever and a very funny man. I am just sorry that we did not get to spend more time with him. Forever in our hearts. Gary, Mon and all the Lewis family.

    Gary Lewis
  18. Our heart felt condolences go to dear Rose and extended family at this time. My friendship with Ewen has been a gift and will always be cherished. He was a buddy of 50 years and his thirst for knowledge, excellence and compassion second to none. I’m truly grateful that our class of 69 Exhibition gave us a final reunion and event to remember with joy. He will always be a strong Color on my Tartan of life fabric, and treasured always.
    Farewell my dear friend as you walk in the eternal Glen of peace.
    Wayne, Nerie and Nikita Rintoul.

    Wayne Rintoul
  19. Deepest sympathy to the McDonalds;
    Peter, Andrea, Alison and families, Rosemary, Magnus, Mithy, Morag and families. We are deeply saddened by the passing of Ewen, we have many happy, humorous and fond memories of times together, a true gentleman with a wicked sense of humour, a talented artist and much much more, from the Aspinalls, Elizabeth, Rohan, Kym, Ferne and families.

    Rohan Aspinall
  20. To the immediate and extended families of Ewen and Rose, we offer our deep and heartfelt condolences. It’s hard to believe that Ewen is gone. We will remember him always – a huge and meaningful part of our lives, and as one of Rino’s closest and dearest friends – as close as a brother to him in fact.
    Ewen shone with many giftings – his towering intellect and artistic talent, his productive energy, love of fun and great wit, generous and caring spirit, and great wisdom. What a man! We will miss you, and are thankful for having had your friendship.
    Madeleine and Ingrid Camilleri

    Madeleine Camilleri
  21. To Rosemary Morag, Miff and Magnus condolences on the death of Ewen from Barry, Lis, Colin and Michael. We will miss the discussions and arguments. Another True Believer gone. Barry Davis

    Barry Davis
  22. We were so sad to hear of Ewen’s passing, he was a lovely man and will be greatly missed. We’re sending all our love and strength to the family, Kate, Jimmy and Lenny xx

    Kate Robert’s
  23. Sincere condolences to Rosie, Magnus and families. It was a pleasure to know Ewen, to work with and as a warm intelligent man.
    His humour and warmth will be sadly missed. Always remembered and loved. Loving thoughts with you Rosie and the family. Vale Ewen

    Jan McKerlie
  24. I am so sorry for your loss, Rosemary. It was my great privilege to meet Ewan last year, and I pray that the Father of mercies and God of all comfort will indeed comfort you and your family especially Lisa Jayne, and those we share as family, Gabriel, Raphael, Jasper and my brother Louis as the loss of Ewan is felt deeply by all who knew him. As the Word of God encourages us in Psalm 30, v.5 “weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.” I pray that there is yet joy in the memories shared and love given and received.
    – Anita Cali

    Anita Cali
  25. Dearest Rosemary
    Sending my condolences to you and your family.
    It’s only been a short time that I’ve had the pleasure of knowing you both. In that time I always looked forward to ewen telling me things I never knew and making me laugh. The last time I was able to see Ewen he was sitting in his chair, struggling to talk which was so very sad to see. I’m glad you’re no longer in pain and resting peacefully .
    Much love
    Cherie

    Cherie Newman
  26. Just wanted to express our love and sorrow- such a loss for us all
    Thankyou for a beautiful service- we learnt so much about Ewen..
    Look forward to seeing you as restrictions lift,
    Much love..

    Kirsty, Fergus and Angus
  27. Sincere condolences and love to Rose, and all of Ewen’s family and friends. I had the pleasure of working with Ewen at PTS for many years. I feel blessed to have known such a caring and intelligent man. I honestly do not think that there was one question the Ewen couldn’t answer- except maybe the computer not working haha. You are an absolutely amazing person who will live on in many people’s memories due to this. Lots of love always, Nellie and Fox xx

    Janelle Browning
  28. Dear Rosemary, Morag, Miffy, Magnus and family,
    Please accept my love and sincere condolences on Ewen’s passing. Such a fabulous man, so full of love and care, fun and cheekiness, so creative and hardworking, and full of honour and integrity. A fine man.
    Ewen will be sadly missed by so many for all time.
    Ewen’s service showed the love he shared with you all plus your love for him. I will treasure the memories I have of Ewen forever.
    Lots of love to everyone.
    Take care,
    Lorraine xxxx

    Lorraine O'Dal
  29. To all of Ewen’s family and friends, We are so sorry for your immense loss. We will remember Ewen as a generous, warm, highly knowledgeable, talented and yes at times pretty opinionated person who had a strong moral code that he lived by, and who did all he could to make the world a better place. He loved his family deeply and was treasured my many, including mum and dad who I know admired and loved him greatly. Thinking of you all at this time, love Georgia, Alex, Julia and Clara

    Georgia Pinto
  30. My condolences to all who loved Ewen.
    Ewen was always in my life, through good times & bad.
    Our childhood was happy, living in Sale, then Merlynston & a move to Diamond Creek where Ewen lived in the self converted old shop at the bottom of the block.
    Many great times were spent with our Webb cousins in Kalorama & our Aspinall cousins in Frankston, also camping with the Aspinalls at Pt Leo.
    Ewen worked at Pt Leo for a couple of summer seasons, & I joined him there whenever I could.
    When baby Morag came along I lived with Ewen & Barbara in Heidelberg for a while, when Ewen was doing his nursing training at the Repat. I remember taking her to be the demonstration baby in his class.
    His influence was the reason my husband became a nurse, also training at the Repat.
    Many years of visits to Evansford followed, & many Christmas days were spent with our growing families.
    Ewen was always pitching in to help, whether it was my broken down cars, or when our home burnt down on Black Saturday.
    He always helped Alison when she lived in Ballarat & has given much love & support to Ali & her son since then.
    I have been there for dark periods in his life also & we had regular Sunday morning calls until COVID hit.
    The last time I saw Ewen was 4 days before he died. He talked about how lucky he was to have so much love in his life when he was dying, how much beauty there is in the world & how he still didn’t believe in God.

    He is lovingly remembered by myself (Andrea), David, our children Gemma Adam & Madeleine, & Alison & her son Cameron.

    Andrea Pearce