<div itemprop="description">It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Dr. Sandra Lee Allen Swartzen at the age of 77 years. <br> <br>On April 27, 2025, Lee Allen, beloved wife, mother, sister, and Grandma, passed away peacefully at Ste. Anne’s Hospital in Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, Quebec. <br> <br>Lee was an intelligent, adventurous, and loving woman, deeply devoted to her husband and children. Born in Kingston, Ontario, to Ruth Evelyn Swartzen (née Davis) and Lt. Col. Gordon William Swartzen, she was the middle of three sisters. Much of her childhood was spent at Kingston’s Royal Military College, before the family relocated to Ottawa in 1956. <br> <br>As a high school student, Lee was an avid athlete and member of the drama club. Summers were spent working at wilderness camps, where her love for the outdoors flourished. It was through canoe tripping that Lee met her husband, Larry Allen. Together, they explored countless Canadian lakes and rivers—including the Nahanni and Harricana—and shared 54 joyful years of marriage until Larry’s passing in 2022. They passed on their passion for canoeing, camping, and skiing to their four children, spending as much time as possible at their cottage on Lac Supérieur in Quebec. <br> <br>Lee earned a Bachelor of Science from the University of Western Ontario in 1968, and later a PhD in Physical Chemistry from Clarkson University in 1972. She began her career as a chemist with Johnson & Johnson in Montreal. Following the birth of her first child in 1977, Lee devoted herself fully to raising her family. In 1992, she returned to her profession, joining the Pulp and Paper Institute of Canada as an air-emissions specialist, where she worked until her retirement. <br> <br>Lee will be remembered for her intelligence, warmth, toughness, humour, and her love of a good book. She is survived by her four children: Sandy (Doug McMillan; children Connor, Brandon, and Davey), Mike (Rim Ben Saad; children Remi and Axel), Jamie (Vivien Allen; children Hunter and Keira), and Dave (Lauren Fraychineaud; children Flint, Cea, Esme, and Eily). She is also remembered lovingly by her sister Gail and extended family. She was predeceased by her beloved husband, Larry, and older sister Judy. <br> <br>A private celebration of Lee’s life will be held on May 31st in Ottawa, Ontario. In lieu of flowers, a donation to Rare Dementia Support Canada would be appreciated by Lee’s family: https://raredementiasupport.ca/ <br></div>
