08/12/2025
Corlene Beatrice (Dwyer) Taylor, U.E.
(May 31, 1928-August 9, 2025).
It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Corlene, at her home, surrounded by love in her 98th year.
Corlene was predeceased by her husband and the love of her life, Lawrence Edward (Larry) Taylor; by her parents, Leslie Read and Bessie Irene (Beyer) Dwyer, and by her brothers Leslie and David Dwyer. She is survived by several cousins, her special friends Blake Loney, and Brenda Young. She will be missed by her friends and colleagues at the Mayholme Foundation.
Corlene was born at the family homestead, “Mayholme,” in Grantham Township. She attended Maywood School, the St. Catharines Collegiate Institute, and was a graduate of the Ontario Agricultural College (Macdonald Hall, University of Guelph) where she studied between 1946 and 1949. Corlene had an innate love of plants and gardening, which she acquired from her family and through her association with other farm families in the area. After Corlene and Larry were married, they purchased property overlooking Lake Ontario near Beamsville. There they were early practitioners of organic farming, and generously shared seeds, plants, and produce with friends and neighbours.
Corlene grew up with the knowledge that her Loyalist ancestors were members of Butlers Rangers and among the first settlers in Grantham Township. They included: Read, Bessey, Secord, Bowman, May, Hainer, and Vollick. This fostered her interest in local history and genealogy, and she could effortlessly recite connections with related families in Niagara and beyond.
Corlene belonged to many historical organizations and was a very early member of the Ontario Genealogical Society. She served as the chairman of the Niagara Branch of the OGS and volunteered for the branch when it was at the Thorold Library assisting with research queries. Corlene spent many long hours transcribing tombstones in old cemeteries with her friend, the late Peggy Willis and Aunt Corlene. Corlene was a member of the Lincoln Historical Society when it met at Rodman Hall. In 1967, she and Gordon Merritt requested that the City of St. Catharines provide them with a permanent site for a museum and they were allowed to use the Merritton Town Hall, the forerunner of the present Lock 3 location. Corlene donated many items to the museum, and the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa accepted artifacts that belonged to her mother who was a nurse in France during World War 1.
During the late 1970s and early ‘80s, Corlene worked tirelessly in her efforts to have the May-Clark-Seiler house, her ancestral home, designated and turned into a museum. Unfortunately, the house was burned in October 1984.
In the 1990s, Corlene established the “House of Dwyer” imprint which she used to create genealogical publications.
In 2002, a fund was set up by Corlene through the Niagara Community Foundation using money inherited from her aunt Corlene (Beyer) Tostevin. This fund was used to build a research room and library. Known as the Mayholme Foundation, the facility was opened during the “Doors Open” weekend in 2004. A substantial addition was made to the Centre in 2024 which now houses an important and growing collection of Canadian and American genealogical and historical books and records. Noteworthy in the collection are the papers and records of the late Esther Summers of Thorold.
In 2004, Corlene was awarded a Lifetime Achievement certificate by the Ontario Heritage Foundation “in appreciation of a lifetime of volunteer work to identify, preserve, protect, and promote our province’s rich heritage.”
As a genuine friend, mentor, and colleague, Corlene will be sorely missed by all those whose lives she touched but she will not soon be forgotten.
Donations to Mayholme or a charity of your choice would be appreciated.
Arrangements are entrusted to Tallman Funeral Home, Vineland. At Corlene’s request, there will be no visitation or service. Cremation has taken place.
A Celebration of Life will be held at the Mayholme Foundation, 525 Ontario Street on September 5, 2025. 1-4 p.m.
