René Pearce (Eileen Alice McLellan) 1938-2007

René Pearce passed away June 11, 2007 in Los Angeles after a brief illness. Born "Eileen Alice McLellan" in Toronto, Ontario, she moved to the United States in 1959 and became an American citizen in 1967.

René worked as an office manager and consultant, travelled to Mexico and Europe for work, and at one time worked at McConnell Air Force Base. She was a good cook, an avid reader and scuba diver and loved the outdoors. René was also a spiritual seeker who at different times studied Meditation, Logic, Objectivism, Zen Buddhism and Christian Science, among other philosophies. At times she lived and entertained in style and at other times she roughed it, living out of her car or on the street, where she befriended passers-by.

Fiercely independent and reluctant to accept help from others, Rene was a generous soul who at one time sponsored underpriveleged teenagers and helped them to attend college. A long-time resident of Santa Monica, René spent most of the last two years living at the CLARE Foundation and at SAMOSHEL, then found an apartment for herself and her cat two months before she passed away.

Friends describe René as a character, a chain-smoker who loved unfiltered Pall Malls, and a spitfire who didn't care what anyone thought of her, but who would tell you exactly what she thought of you. She described herself as a thinker and as a lover, and often said, "I am in my right place, but not in my perfect place."

René is survived by her twin sister, Marlene Pappas, of Vancouver, BC, by her older brothers Jerry and Larry McLellan and her younger brother Bill McLellan, and by eight nieces and nephews and their children.

There will be a Memorial Service on Saturday June 30 from 4-7 PM at Douglas Park, 2439 Wilshire Blvd. (between Chelsea Avenue & 25th Street) in Santa Monica. There is also a memorial website at http://renepearce.blogspot.com. Memorial contributions may be sent to the Santa Monica Public Library, 601 Santa Monica Boulevard Santa Monica, CA 90401, 310-458-8600. Please call 310-804-9498 with any other questions.

Download the Santa Monica Daily Press obituary as PDF

Pictures of René and Marlene

René Pearce / Eileen Alice McLellan 1938-2007

My friend René Pearce passed away tonight at the age of 69.

Born "Eileen Alice McLellan" in Canada, she moved to the US in 1959 and became an American citizen in 1967. She led a fascinatingly varied life which I learned a little about as I got to know her.

She had a stroke on Wednesday May 30 and was admitted to UCLA Medical. She rested peacefully in the hospital and died June 11, 2007 at 11PM.

She was a spitfire and a remarkable character - I'm glad to have known her.

This is a memorial website for her friends and family to share stories about her.

Thank you for visiting.