SHIRLEY LUFT

SHIRLEY ANNE MARGARET LUFT (née Forstrom)
The spirit and soul of Shirley went to be with her Lord Jesus on September 9, 2025.

Shirley (Shan) was born on May 28, 1935, in the Kenora General Hospital, to her loving parents William and Olga Forstrom. Her nearest sibling in age was 9 years older so her three siblings became surrogate parents to this talkative young sister.

Shirley met her future husband in April 1955, while attending North Bay Teacher's College. Bill was temporarily stationed there as an RCAF pilot. They immediately connected while attending the choir of Redeemer Lutheran church, and much of their future courting was done through correspondence when Shirley graduated and returned to Kenora.

Her teaching career took off in Kenora and following their marriage, she continued teaching in North Bay.

Following a short stint in Portage la Prairie and Bill's retirement from the Air Force, they moved to Waterloo, ON where he commenced an engineering degree at U of W. Their first-born child, Patricia, now required a nanny as Shirley continued to teach through Bill's schooling. With Bill's graduation, she received her "degree" in PHT (Putting Hubby Through).

In 1965, they settled in Thunder Bay where their second child, John, was born. Shirley taught Kindergarten and later Junior Kindergarten in numerous Thunder Bay public schools. One of her hobbies during her teaching career was demonstrating and selling Artex embroidery paints which she used to enhance her students' artistic development, making gifts for their mom and dad. Her career included full-time and half-time teaching positions as well as completing her Bachelor of Arts degree and work on her Master of Education.

With an idea birthed while on a sabbatical break, Shirley and her husband opened a Christian bookstore called Sonlight on Park Ave. She loved meeting and conversing with customers and had an innate ability to hear and empathize with people who were struggling with issues. Thus, she was able to offer support for them through her close relationship with her Lord Jesus.

In 1992, Shirley and Bill retired from teaching and enjoyed many years of traveling to visit family and friends in their RVs, dipsy-doodling around Canada and the USA.

Shirley had many friends on Facebook and loved to stay in touch via that medium. She had a real gift of communicating through birthday and Christmas cards where she filled all the space available to her. These activities became increasingly more difficult in later years as her eyesight was failing due to Macular Degeneration.

Shirley is survived by her loving husband of 68 years, Bill; daughter Patty Philp (Marty); son John (Barb); grandchildren John Philp (Kaleigh), Ryan Philp (Samantha), Andrew Philp (Mimosa), Peter Luft (Heather), and Jane Luft, as well as three great-grandchildren, Penelope, Marley and Summer Philp.

She was predeceased by her parents, brother Sidney Forstrom (Joan), and sisters Dora Cox (Bob) and Irene Nickerson (John) and great-granddaughter Lola.

The family of Shirley would like to thank the many medical professionals and caregivers who showed her kindness over the past number of years of her declining health. A special message of gratitude to the St. Joseph's Care Group Hospice team for their gentleness and compassion in the final days.

Cremation has occurred and a Celebration of Life will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, September 26, 2025 in the chapel of Sargent and Son Funeral Home. A private interment will take place at Sunset Memorial Gardens at a later date. Donations to Redwood Park church or a charity of choice may be made as a token of remembrance of Shirley, if so desired.

Online condolences may be expressed at www.sargentandson.com