Passed away peacefully on April 24, 2022 in her 96th year at St Joseph’s Health Centre Guelph. She’s off to join her husband Gordon (1993), daughter Brenda (2020), son Bryan (2014), cheering and clicking their glasses together with open arms. She will be dearly missed by her family, Bonnie (Peter), Barbara Ann (Bob), Barry (Karen), 7 grandchildren Kelly (Dave), Tracey (Jon), Brett (Colleen), Corey (Johanna), TJ (Alisha), Nicole (Jake), Courtney (Chris), 11 great grandchildren & 1 great great grandchild she never had the pleasure of cuddling due to Covid. She loved babies & her 4 legged grandbabies. She loved her nieces & nephews but had a special bond with Michele, daughter of sister Lorene (2003), also preceded by brother Stuart (2019).
Although she didn’t say it often, we could feel her love for us all. She would do anything for her family. In our younger days after we went to bed, she found it relaxing sitting in front of her old Singer sewing machine making us clothes or other projects. We’d be in the kitchen helping Mom with preserves using the table-top grinder to make many jars from Dad’s huge vegetable garden. She enjoyed crocheting while watching TV. A real pro with word search books while watching TV as well. She never missed school events and was our biggest cheerleader. She was a busy gal and she sure loved her family! She was always babysitting the grandkids & other kids. Although they sure didn’t get away with much, there were lots of fun times with Grandma too.
In her later years she remained very active, always on the go. She drove her little car well into her 90’s and had something on the go every day of the week. Mom played the piano by ear, good old country tunes. She played euchre at the Evergreen Centre, Church of Our Lady or any place she heard of, she’d be there. For years she joined her friends at the mall for coffee, chatting and sharing laughs, it was always a fun time. She loved to dance and used to go to Red Chev & Fergus Legion with her friends. She was particularly fussy with her hair, it had to be just right. Geeez!
Mom had her famous lines - “Don’t go to bed with your motor running”, “isn’t that the limit”,
“She’s a dear wee soul” and had the sharpest wit. She always had a quick and clever response that made you laugh.
Mom was a proud, strong gal with a big smile even when times were tough. She was truly selfless; she never complained and didn’t want a fuss made over her. Jean Shirley was one of a kind. She will be so very missed by her loving family, and we will forever carry with us our fondest memories. Cremation has taken place.
A celebration of life service will be held at GILCHRIST CHAPEL – McIntyre & Wilkie Funeral Home, One Delhi Street, Guelph on Sunday May 1st, 2022. at 2:00 p.m. Reception to follow service. Interment will be held at a later date at Woodlawn Memorial Park. If desired, contributions to St Joseph’s Health Centre Foundation would be appreciated. We invite you to leave your memories and donations online at: www.gilchristchapel.com and they will be forwarded to the family.