February 4, 1936 – February 14, 2019

When I was seven years old, my mother began to teach me to read, write, and do arithmetic. She was 24, had a grade nine education, 2 tiny children plus me, a paper making, shift working husband, and a mortgage. Our matriarch always put her family first. When I broke my wrist, several fingers and dislocated the same shoulder in a scrub hockey game, my mother told me to walk the rest of the way to Saint Jo’s Hospital as she had the little ones to care for and no car. Raising kids, building homes for them, and Bill, was her first priority.

Shirley Mae is survived by three of her children, Sherry Lynn (Brian), Ray (Jari), and Brian (Theresa). Our mother has ten grandchildren, Matt & Sarah, Sean, Will, Celeste, Jamie Lynn, Brandon, Jonathan, Marshall and Dale Jr. Shirley has one great grandchild; Holly Lou Love of Thunder Bay, Ontario, a piece of work – just like her great grandma.

Shirley was predeceased by her parents, Harvey and Zelda McCluskey of Port Arthur, Ontario; her brother, Don of Port Alberni, B.C.; in February 2018 her youngest child, Dale, passed away in Concepcion, Chile; and her husband of 65 years, Bill, passed away a month ago.

We lose loved ones.
New ones come to take their place.
So it is.