SHIRLEY KNOWLES (NELSON)

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SHIRLEY KNOWLES
(nee NELSON)

Shirley passed away December 20, 2022, at the Grace Manor, Ottawa, following a nine-year struggle with Alzheimer's.
She is survived by her husband of 60 years, David, her daughter Susan, son Peter and daughter-in-law Henrietta Veerman.
She is also survived by her sister Pam Byrtus, her sister-in-law Margi Plaxton, her treasured grandkids, Jonathon and Molly, nieces and nephews, Nancy, Roman, Elaine, Bruce, Jill, Laura and cousins, Bob and Donnie.
Shirley was born in Winnipeg, to Esther and Peter Edstrom. Her father died when she was three months. Her mother worked in munitions plants during the war and Shirl was jointly raised by her grandparents, Fred and Francis Orvis and her Aunts Bertha and Ada, who all welcomed the opportunity to look after Shirley.
Her mother met and married Hilding Nelson after the war, and Shirley had new siblings - an older brother Jackie (predeceased) and younger sister Pam. The family lived on Waverley in River Heights where she attended Grosvenor, and Robert H. Smith schools.
After graduation from Gordon Bell High, she attended University of Manitoba graduating with a BA. It was then, on campus in her last year, that she met David and started dating. (They had both been attending the same High School and University for six years!!)
After graduation and before starting work, she spent eight months hitch-hiking in Europe with her friends, Ginny, Carol and Sharon. Shirley then worked as a Social Worker for Children's Aid Society in both Winnipeg and Ottawa, helping single mothers cope with their challenging lives. When her children arrived, she made the conscious decision to be a stay-at-home mother. The family enjoyed much happiness in Parkwood Hills, where everyone was involved in sports, Brownies, arts and crafts, and all aspects of community life. The family always had a cat - sometimes three!! The family also enjoyed a year in London, England, on sabbatical. Shirley loved curling in both the ladies' leagues, and mixed bonspiels. She did regular swims with her friends for many years and basically kept all family members on schedule. She also attended special events with her widowed father-in-law Stanley Knowles, getting to meet the Queen on several occasions.
In retirement the couple enjoyed many happy years together. Winters in Florida included walks on the beach, garage sales, flea markets and many fish dinners with friends. Back home they alternated between Crosby Lake - hiking, swimming, canoeing and soaking in the tranquility of nature, and their new downsized condo in New Edinburg - a part of Ottawa they came to love and enjoy. After being stricken with Alzheimer's, the daily routine shifted from happy independence to carefully orchestrated days that helped mitigate her memory loss.
We want to thank the management and staff at Grace Manor who provided a welcoming and safe place for Shirley's last years. A very special thanks to Monique Thibault, David's "coach" at the Dementia Society, who has been invaluable to him throughout the last five years.
A visitation will be held at the Central Chapel of Hulse Playfair & McGarry, 315 McLeod Street (at O'Connor) on Friday, January 6 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. A Celebration of Life will be held at MacKay United, 39 Dufferin Road, on Saturday, January 7 at 11:00 a.m., with a reception to follow. Cremation has taken place and the ashes will be spread at the family cottage. Those wishing to make a donation could consider the Dementia Society (Ottawa and Renfrew County) or the Ottawa Humane Society.

Condolences/Tributes/Donations
Hulse, Playfair & McGarry
www.hpmcgarry.ca
613-233-1143

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Dec 24, 2022