It is with a great feeling of loss that we inform you that Samantha McLelland passed away on October 28, 2022. She was 33.
Samantha will continue to live on through her loving family. She will be deeply missed by her father Billy, mother Beverley (Basso), and brother C.J. Samantha’s cats Evie & Mimi are still waiting for her to come home. She grew up with four caring grandparents: her Papa & Nana, Earl & Jean Basso, and her Grandpa & Grandma, Bill & Gayle McLelland (all predeceased). Sam was fortunate to have a plethora of supportive uncles, aunts, and cousins who loved her dearly. She also had an incredible amount of friends that she would quickly form lifelong relationships with wherever she went.
Right from the beginning, Samantha was always smiling, caring, and adventurous. Growing up she would most often be singing along to classic animated Disney movies and the Spice Girls. She loved playing outside at the camp on Crooked Lake with her older brother and keeping up with him and his friends.
Samantha attended Marymount Academy where she became a fierce Regal while competing in volleyball, basketball, flag football, and slow pitch softball. After high school she was driven to pursue her passions of singing and acting by enrolling in the Acting for Stage and Screen program at Canadore College in North Bay. She was one of the founding cast members of Y.E.S. Theatre when she played Sheila in their inaugural performance of Hair in 2010. “McSam” will forever be a member of “The Tribe”.
Samantha then moved to Toronto for more acting opportunities. While appearing in movies and shows such as The Handmaid’s Tale, she supported herself as a server at the famous Spirits Bar & Grill, where she loved singing for her customers on karaoke nights. Later, as a teacher for Little Rebels Music & Development, she encouraged young children to grow through song and creative movement. She absolutely adored her “little muffin heads”. At the Canadian National Exhibition and other events around Ontario, she would also work the booth for Little Shop of Lobsters. She loved their various seafood mousses.
Samantha loved attending concerts of her diverse musical taste as much as she could. She also loved to travel, which included her yearly silent retreats to Mexico. Out of everything that Sam loved doing, her favourite thing above all else was to support her friends however possible, even if that meant flying across the country to buy a ticket for one of their live shows so she could cheer them on as they followed their own dreams.
For her short time on this earth, Sam wasted none of it by constantly spreading positivity and pursuing what she loved. The greatest lesson that she taught us was to always let the sunshine in, remember the love, and to live your best life. Samantha was the most beautiful song that we’ve ever heard.
We would like to thank Samantha’s friends for all of their wonderful love and support. We would also like to thank Dr. Ravi Singh, and his nurses Erin & Charlene. Thank you for caring. Additionally, a special thank you to her Bayshore nurse Stacey, who went above and beyond for her. Finally, the staff at the Maison McCulloch Hospice were incredible to Sam and to our family. The love that we received from them really helped to alleviate our pain through this tough journey. We couldn’t have done this without all of you. Thank you.
On January 14th, at the Sudbury Theatre Centre, there will be an evening of music, memories, poetry and togetherness to celebrate the extraordinary life of Samantha.
Donations in Samantha’s honour are greatly appreciated and may be made to the following:
-Youth Entertaining Sudbury (Y.E.S.) Theatre: https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/youth-entertaining-sudbury-yes-theatre/
-Maison McCulloch Hospice: https://maisonsudburyhospice.org/donate/
-Little Rebels Music and Development (“The Samantha McLelland Community Fund provides programming for families who otherwise wouldn’t have the means”): e-transfer to “[email protected]”, security answer “Samantha”. You can also email that address for more information.
Arrangements entrusted to Park Law Crematorium.
For donations or messages of condolence www.lougheedfuneralhomes.com.