RENNIE, Shirley Loraine (nee Schnurr)

It is with sadness and love that we announce the passing of our dear mom and nana, Shirley Loraine Rennie (nee Schnurr), June 13, 1928-November 27, 2022. Shirley was the beloved wife of the late Clare (J.C.) Rennie (1926-2016), steadfast and patient mother of Don and Cindy (Lindsay) and half-century long friend to their spouses, Frances and Jim. She adored her grandchildren, Claire (Leo Crane), John, David (Danielle Douglas), Jaimie (Charlie Cox) and Julia (Cody McAlister), and took endless pleasure in the antics and energy of her great- grandchildren, Theo, Sidney and Peter(Crane), Nuada, Fionn and Cillian (Cox). Shirley is survived by her loving and supportive sister Lois and many caring nieces and nephews.

One of five sisters (Agnes, Ruth, Muriel and Lois), Shirley was born and raised in Guelph. She left high school at the end of grade 10 because of the war to work in the Dean’s office at the Ontario Agricultural College. It was there that she met Clare, a new student. Together they built a life surrounded by family and a circle of life-long friendships with colleagues at the OAC, the University and Rotary Club. Supporting Clare and his abundant energy, they travelled to all parts of Canada and beyond, from farms and barns to convocations and conferences. Shirley quipped that she would be quite content not to see the rear-end of another Holstein for as long as she lived.

Shirley was as constant as the North star that Guelph was her home and family her heart. Family was everything to her. She could describe the Schnurr family lineage back generations in rich detail. A great storyteller, Shirley would recount a now distant time, of summers in Mildmay Ontario and the day-to-day life of five spirited young girls growing up in the Depression years in a family of modest means. The bond and love between Shirley, Ruth and Lois was deep, and deepened further by the early death of her sister Agnes in 1953 and the tragic loss of her younger sister Muriel in 1967. At their annual sister’s retreat at Port Elgin, all they needed was the company of each other and a game of Scrabble. Their laughter over disputed words and different recollections of the past family history still echoes.

An engaging conversationalist and astute listener, Shirley was blessed with many friendships. Open minded and accepting, outgoing and gracious, all were drawn to her warmth and kindness, her sparkling eyes and laughter. As one niece said, “Auntie Shirley was the only person I know who truly loved everyone unconditionally.” Nana or Auntie Shirley was always someone in whom you could confide and seek advice. No one, young or old, left a conversation with Shirley not feeling understood and special, better about their place in the world. For her, solutions to the complexities of life were guided by simple values: honesty, kindness, politeness and acceptance.

We want to acknowledge our sincere appreciation and gratitude to Gail Best, the staff at Riverside Glen and the neighbours of Forest Hill Drive for welcoming mom and dad into their lives and watching over them in their later years.

A celebration in remembrance will be held in Guelph in the spring. Should family or friends wish to honour Shirley’s memory, our family would be grateful if you considered a charitable contribution to the Rotary Club of Guelph – Rotary Forest Project. https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/rotary-club-of-guelph/

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