Beloved Perris Centenarian Lena May McFarlane Passes on Her 102nd Birthday
The family of Lena May (Mudahy) McFarlane, a prominent and beloved member of the Perris faith and senior community, has shared that their mother, grandmother, great grandmother, and great-great-grandmother has, “…passed away peacefully on her 102nd Birthday, June 9, 2024.”
She was born to Dorothy Elizabeth Luscombe and Thomas Leonard Mudahy in St. Andrews, Jamaica in 1922, and spent the first half-century plus of her life in the Caribbean.
She married the late Aubrey George McFarlane in 1945 and together they had 9 children of which 6 survive her. Her husband passed away 32 years ago. George often referred to his beloved as “Paperdoll.”
They moved to Los Angeles in 1977, later coming east to Perris in 1992.
In a 2022 Progress article observing Lenaʻs 100th birthday, daughter Carla Scott shared that her mother was active in two Churches, The Church of Our Savior, in Los Angeles and Temple Baptist Church in Perris.
She was also a long-time member of the Perris Senior Center where she was twice crowned as the Annual Senior Prom Queen.
Ms. Scott added that Lena loved to travel, dance, read, cook and bake. Lena attributed her longevity to Christian living, eating good food (she loved fish, chicken, fruits and vegetables) and the love and care of her family.
In remembrance of Lenaʻs passing, her family shared, “Up until the end, Lena maintained her kindness, grace, compassion, love of family and friends, and often expressed how grateful she was for the blessing of a long life, which was full of wonderful memories and varied experiences. Lena’s life can best be described by five “F’s”: Family, Friends, Flowers, Food and Fun. In her 102 years with us she experienced an abundance of each. It truly was a life well lived!”
She is survived by 6 children, 14 grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren, and 7 great-great grandchildren.
A Celebration of the Life of Lena May McFarlane will be held next Tuesday, June 25th at 11 am at Temple Baptist Church, 745 N. Perris Blvd.
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