May 23, 1940 – February 26, 2026
It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of our loving wife, mother and grandmother, Maime Elenora “Eleanor” McLean (nee Hunnakko), age 85 years, peacefully in Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre on Thursday, February 26, 2026.
Eleanor was born in Kakabeka Falls, Ontario on May 23, 1940 to Walter and Maime (nee Nummikoski) Hunnakko. She was educated locally, attended Fort William Vocational Institute, then graduated Nurses College in 1971. She worked for many years as an RNA at McKellar hospital, PA General Hospital and then the TBRHSC until she retired June 30, 2000.
Eleanor is predeceased by her parents Walter and Maime Hunnakko, mother-in-law Martha (Mattie) McLean, former husband Adolph Tenkula, her son Darren Tenkula, siblings Wesley Hunnakko, Diana Ilka and Helen Matthews.
Eleanor is survived by her husband of 31 years, Bruce McLean, children Dwayne Tenkula (Mira Martins), Denise Tenkula (Bruno Rosenberg), Loralie Balec (Mark Balec), Kerri McLean (Jamie Landry) Debra Hitz (Daren Fellner), and her daughter-in-law Janet Ruby, as well as her Siblings Violet Maki, Ray Hunnakko and Leo Hunnakko. Grandchildren Robyn Tenkula (Corey), Nickolas Tenkula, Lance Hitz, Donovan Hitz, Sara Jansen (Kyle), Brooklyn Balec, Mika Tenkula, Ryan Tenkula, Christian Landry and Amelia Landry. Numerous nieces, nephews, cousins also survive.
Eleanor and her siblings were raised on the farm built by her parents in Silver Mountain after her father emigrated from Finland. She enjoyed her early life which consisted of work and play in a rural setting alongside her siblings, relatives and friends.
Eleanor met Andrew Bruce McLean and, in the spring of 1989, they moved into their home on Victoria Ave along with their four daughters. They married on July 29, 1995. It was a very busy home and they built a wonderful life and family together. The home has always been an “open house” where she very much enjoyed family and friends dropping in regularly. Anyone who needed a place to stay was always welcome. Eleanor and Bruce spent many happy hours on their boat on Lake Superior together, giving her inspiration for her paintings.
Eleanor was an accomplished artist who enrolled in or taught many water colouring courses over the years. She also participated in many painting and craft shows to sell her art, although she did give many of hers away. If she wasn’t painting water colours scenes of nature, the sleeping giant, flowers, birds or monarch butterflies she was painting lady bugs, etc. on rock art. She had just had her artwork at the December Dreams show this last Christmas. Eleanor was a diehard blueberry picker and provided buckets of blueberries to her family and friends every summer. When she went to pick berry’s, it was an expedition from dusk to dawn, bugs and bears did not scare her away.
She was an avid gardener and would spend most summer days tending to her vegetable and flower gardens. Her most important crop was the milkweed plants for the monarch butterflies. She would care for the caterpillars and chrysalis until they hatched into butterflies. After breaking her hip in 2024 her grandson Lance built her beautiful raised garden beds and it made it so much easier for her to enjoy her passion.
Eleanor was the “Florence Nightingale” of the north whom could always be counted on to be there, to help anyone. She spent much of her time helping family members, her neighbours, the elderly or the sick. She was always worried about everyone else before herself.
She trained her black lab Cinders to be a therapy dog through St. Johns Ambulance. She and Cinders spent many afternoons at Hogarth Riverview Manor visiting with residents. She was happy to do this as it allowed her another way to care for people. Sadly, Cinders passed away far too young. Bruce and her were able to find another Labrador puppy whom she named Daisy. Daisy has also brought much joy to their lives in recent years.
Eleanor was adored by all that had the opportunity come to know her and it has been a tremendous loss for many.
A Celebration of Eleanor’s Life will be held in the Spring with details to be announced. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Westfort Chapel, 420 West Gore Street at James.
Please sign the online condolences at everestofthunderbay.com
