SHIRLEY SMITH

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SHIRLEY SMITH It is with deep sadness that we announce the death of Joan Shirley Smith on June 7, 2016. She was 86 years old. Shirley was important to so many people for many different reasons. One line rarely describes a person in their entirety, but for Shirley, you have to know that she spent her life bringing people together. In the second grade, Shirley would meet Paul Smith. Neither knew it at the time, but they would marry in 1957 and spend the rest of their lives together. Shirley graduated from the University of Winnipeg with a degree in social work and after graduation took her first job as a probation officer. When the family moved to Selkirk, Shirley began a position as a social worker at the Selkirk Mental Health Centre. In 1970, Paul took over St. James Anglican church in Winnipeg and shortly thereafter Shirley helped with the Mental Health Outreach Program. From there, she moved to the Winnipeg Regional Mental Health Authority as a team leader in their St. Vital office and subsequently became manager at the Seven Oaks office. Later in her career, Shirley moved to the Provincial Department of Family Conciliation, where she helped to create the Family Dispute Services. Shirley would never really retire. After her formal retirement, she took on the role of director of social work at the Manitoba Adolescent Treatment Centre (MATC). Eventually, after completing several additional courses at the University of Winnipeg, she would open a private counseling practice, where she remained until she finally left the work force for more recreational pursuits. There is not a woman in this world who loved to play' bridge more than Shirley, and she continued her longstanding bridge nights and retreats with the same partners for more than 45 years. Shirley was passionate about the arts and frequented the symphony, ballet, opera and the theatre as often as she could. In her spare time, she would never pass up a mystery novel or a glass of quality scotch. Paul and Shirley were filling their passports up until the weeks before Paul died; to say they travelled extensively is an understatement. Their truck and trailer made its way from Newfoundland to Vancouver, all across Canada and into the United States. Leaving their wheels behind, the two flew all over the world. The locations they flew to, walked upon, and sailed over were limitless: Great Britain, France, Greece, Turkey, Holland, all the countries along the Danube, Egypt, Jordan, Israel, China, and the Caribbean to name a few. They travelled through the Panama Canal and went down the southern coast of South America, saw Brazil, Argentina, and the Falkland Islands. Shirley brought people together, so it is no surprise that one of the most important things in her life was her family. Paul and Shirley would eventually raise four beautiful children, their two sons, Robin (wife Lorraine) and Peter (wife Terry); and their two daughters, Lee-Anna, and Suzanne (wife Debbi). Shirley was an inspiration and champion to her five grandchildren, Amy Anne, Stephan, Lee, Camille, and Simone. Shirley was predeceased by her siblings Ron, Phyllis and Les. She will be greatly missed by all of her children, grandchildren, and nieces and nephews Karen, Don, Murray, Cheryl, Pam, Nelson, Alison and Honor. Shirley is now with God and with Paul, the love of her life. A service of remembrance and thanksgiving will be held on Saturday, June 25, 2016 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Paul's Anglican Church, 830 North Drive, Winnipeg. Reception to follow. Interment at St. George's Anglican Church Wakefield. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to (Foster Parents) Plan Canada and the Alzheimer Society of Manitoba. NEIL BARDAL FUNERAL CENTRE 204-949-2200 neilbardalinc.com

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jun 20, 2016