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Nellie passed away from complications due to Alzheimer’s on Friday, April 19, 2024 at home with her husband by her side. Nellie was the very much beloved wife of Allan McDowell for 54 years. She is survived by her sisters Sylvia (the late Jim) Bunn of Peace River, Alberta, and Marianne (the late John) Johnson of Vogar, Manitoba and many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews in Sarnia, London, Florida, Manitoba, Alberta and B.C. Predeceased by her parents Steven and Mary Senchuk of The Pas, Manitoba; and siblings Adam (May) Senchuk of Sarnia, Jack (Irene) Senchuk and Nick Senchuk of Brandon, Manitoba, and Verna (Jim) Abram of The Pas, Manitoba. Nellie was born in The Pas, Manitoba, on March 23, 1939; where she played hockey and curled. She came to Sarnia to further her education and worked in law offices in both Port Huron and Sarnia before joining the Polysar Patent Department. Later, she left the work force to attend Western University and obtained a BA in History and English, and a diploma in Library Science from Fanshawe College. Always eager to master new skills, Nellie took swimming lessons, studied drawing and painting, and learned how to cook Japanese-style cuisine. She also developed a passion for backpacking in the Algonquin Park and the woods North of Lake Superior. Nellie was unconcerned about the hardships of these trips, except for the black flies in Algonquin which she experienced on several spring adventures. A funeral service will be held at Smith Funeral Home, 1576 London Line, Sarnia, on Saturday, April 27, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. with family and friends being received one hour prior to service. Live streaming of the funeral service can be viewed on the Smith Funeral Home website. Interment to follow in Lakeview Cemetery, Sarnia. Sympathy may be expressed through donations to Alzheimer’s Society of Sarnia-Lambton or the Sarnia and District Humane Society (cheques only at the funeral home please).