Obituary of Shirley STEPHENSON

October 15, 1933 – Montreal, Quebec
October 20, 2019 – Calgary, Alberta

Shirley Stephenson, beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, mother-in-law, sister-in-law, auntie and friend, passed away peacefully on a sunny afternoon on Sunday, October 20, 2019 in Calgary, Alberta. 

In the weeks preceding her passing, she celebrated her eighty-sixth birthday at the Rockyview General Hospital with cupcakes and wine gums. She visited with her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and other family and friends, including her second family at the Valley Ridge retirement home. Throughout her stay there and at the hospice she was surrounded by music, song, fond reminiscence, and love and laughter. She had the opportunity to sit outside and watch the birds and the autumn leaves. Some of the things she loved. 

Shirley lived her life with dignity, curiosity, appreciation for the arts and the beauty around her, with respect and kindness for others. She showed grace, tremendous strength, and a wry sense of humour, even in the face of great adversity. Despite the frailties of advancing age, she never grew old. Although she will be sorely missed, her family and friends are comforted by knowing that her youthful spirit is free of pain and physical limitation and now she’s visiting with old friends and dancing with the angels.

She is survived by her six children, Linda, Judy, Jim (Teri), Sandy (Jim), David (Julie), and Cindy (Mike); eleven grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews and their families.

Please join Shirley’s family for a Celebration of Life at McINNIS & HOLLOWAY (Crowfoot, 82 Crowfoot Circle NW, Calgary, AB), on Saturday, November 9, 2019 at 2:00 p.m.  Condolences may be forwarded through www.McInnisandHolloway.com.

If friends so desire in lieu of flowers, memorial tributes can be made to directly to the Agapé Hospice, 1302 - 8 Avenue N.W., Calgary, AB T2N 1B8 Telephone: (403) 282-6588 http://www.agapehospice.ca/ahfunding.html, or to the Heart & Stroke Foundation of Alberta, 200, 119 – 14th Street N.W., Calgary, AB T2N 1Z6 Telephone: (403) 264-5549, www.heartandstroke.ca. 

The family would like to thank the staff at Valley Ridge, Rockyview General Hospital, and Agape Hospice. Their support and compassionate care throughout this time is greatly appreciated.

A tree will be planted in living memory of Shirley Stephenson. McINNIS & HOLLOWAY FUNERAL HOMES, Crowfoot, 82 CROWFOOT CIRCLE NW, CALGARY, AB T3G 2T3,  Telephone: 403-241-0044.