Our family is mourning the passing of our Mother, Nana, and Great Nana after she slipped away peacefully, in the care of the amazing staff of Sunrise Oakville, at the age of 93. She has been reunited with her predeceased husband of 70 plus years, Dennis, and leaves behind a prolific and admiring progeny including daughter Debbie (David) Elliott, and sons Kenneth (Nancy), Greg (Catherine), and Russell (Leanne), 10 grandchildren, and 5 (soon to be 6) great-grandchildren.

Shirley followed her husband (with their 3 month old child in tow) over to Canada from her childhood home in Letchworth, England in 1957 on the RMS Saxonia, and they established themselves in the City of Montreal, QC where they resided first in Candiac, and then in Montreal West. In both locations, she became, in addition to a busy mother and housewife, an active member of the United Church. Our family’s relocation to Oakville, ON in 1979 led to her establishing herself as a matriarch of an ever growing brood and a frequent hostess of many large and boisterous family gatherings. Nine of her ten grandchildren were born literally across the street from our home at 327 MacDonald Road. Shirley, unsurprisingly, became a pillar of the St. John’s United Church and was President of the U.C.W for many years.

Despite having more than her fair share of ailments, injuries, and sicknesses over her later years, Shirley maintained a determined spirit and unequalled compassion for all of life’s elements that were important to her, including family, faith, and community. She impacted so many lives with her social grace, beautiful smile, and concern for others.

In her honour and memory, we ask that you always “go carefully”.

A special thank you to the incredible staff of caregivers at Sunrise of Oakville for being so supportive and caring over the past few years. In lieu of flowers, a donation in her name to the Kerr Street Mission of Oakville or the Minden Community Food Centre would be greatly appreciated. A final farewell for Shirley will be announced at a future date.