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SHIRLEY-ANN SMITH
Date of Passing: Dec 03, 2019
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SHIRLEY-ANN SMITH
1924 - 2019
Shirley was predeceased by her loving husband, W.D. (Bill) Smith; her brothers, Gordon Edmond and Ross Edmond; and her son, Donald Scott. She is survived by her daughter, Monica; son, David; daughter-in-law, Donna; grandsons, Spencer and Brandon; and great-granddaughter, Siena. Shirley resided in Sidney, BC for the last 20 years.
Shirley was born in Winnipeg in 1924, the first child of Douglas and Eleanor Edmond of Winnipeg. She attended schools in River Heights and graduated from Riverbend School for Girls (now Balmoral Hall) in 1940. She attended the University of Manitoba, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1947 and a diploma in social work in 1948. Her studies were interrupted for two and a half years while she served as a sergeant in the Canadian Intelligence Corps at the Japanese Language Training Station in Vancouver. In 1967, at the age of 43, she completed her Master of Social Work at the University of Manitoba.
After their marriage, Shirley and Bill moved to Brandon, where Shirley initially worked for the Children's Aid Society, and then as a psychiatric social worker at the Brandon Hospital for Mental Diseases. Returning to Winnipeg with Bill and their three children, she undertook graduate studies for three years. Shirley was then employed by the University of Manitoba as Dean of Women. After serving with distinction in this position for six years, she left the university to work as a social development officer with the Department of Secretary of State of the Government of Canada. Following her retirement at the age of 60, Shirley was appointed to the Board of Regents of the University of Winnipeg, where she proudly served from 1974 to 1979.
Shirley was very involved in community service and was made a life member of the Canadian Council of Women - Brandon Chapter in recognition of the many scholarly articles and reports she wrote on women's education.
Shirley and Bill loved reading, entertaining, laughing, singing, travelling, and being with family and friends.
In accordance with Shirley's wishes, cremation has taken place. Interment services will follow with family and friends in various Canadian locations that were special to Shirley.
As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Dec 21, 2019
Condolences & Memories (1 entries)
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In the process of writing a memorial comment for a longtime friend, I googled Shirley Smith, U of M Dean of Women and discovered, sadly, that she had passed away in 2019. I am sorry that had I known she was in Sidney, I could have had several chances to contact her on visits to the Island. Mrs. Smith was very helpful to me in my role as Lady Stick of Arts, but more importantly was her help when the above-mentioned friend had a breakdown in my office. Mrs. Smith dropped whatever she was doing and came running down. She calmed down my friend and connect her with psychiatric help that would eventually lead to my friend's recovery and a successful career. It was only on reading Mrs. Smith's obituary that I discovered her own background in psychiatry and social work. She was a wonderful woman. My condolences to the family. - Posted by: Linda Litwack (Lady Stick of Arts, 1968-69) on: Aug 05, 2022