Margaret Brodie SHORTTS

MARGARET BRODIE SHORTTS (NEE GARDNER) AUGUST 27, 1917 ­ APRIL 25, 2010 A few months shy of her 93rd birthday, Margaret Brodie Shortts (nee Gardner) passed away early Sunday afternoon, April 25th, at York Extendicare in Sudbury, Ontario. Predeceased last year by her husband of almost 71 years, the late F.Cameron Shortts, Marg's health slowly deteriorated over the past 6 years. She was the loving mother of 2 daughters and the death in 2002 of her beloved Judy (Herold) of Sudbury took its toll. A strong and spirited woman, she will be greatly missed by her surviving daughter, Jane Van Horne of Toronto. Gramma will also be missed by her 3 grandchildren, Cameron Herold (Jane) of Vancouver, Todd Herold (Jody) of Sudbury, and Kristi Herold Miller (Rolston) of Toronto and her son-in-law John Herold of Sudbury. Visits & photos from 7 great grandchildren have been her main joy of late ­ Aidan & Connor (Vancouver), Jackson & Charlie Brodie (Sudbury), and Cassidy, Andie & Dax of Toronto. Marg was born in Ste. Agathe, Que. on August 27, 1917 the 2nd daughter of the late Margaret & William (Bill) Gardner of Scotland. Her father, a landscape gardner was completing a project north of Montreal at the time. Soon after she was born, her family returned to their home in Stonehaven, Scotland. When she was 4, the City of Sudbury hired her father to design and build a park on land donated by the Bell family. As a little girl from Scotland, Marg watched her Dad build and maintain the beautiful Bell Park on Lake Ramsey and the `park her Dad built' was her sacred space. Her mother died when she was 6 leaving her Dad with 4 young children. Margaret became a strong and resilient person at a very young age. Outliving all her family, she was predeceased by her younger brother Jim of Sudbury, younger sister Edna Ryan of Toronto, and her older sister Isabel Wright of Newcastle, Ontario. A graduate of Sudbury Business College in Home Economics she was working as a seamstress and at Woolworth's when she met the late F. Cameron Shortts of Newburgh, Ontario who had come to the Sudbury region for work in the mines. They married in 1938 in Bell Park and when war broke out Cam joined the Air Force so Marg lived in southern Ontario with her sister Isabel. In 1946 Marg & Cam began their lives as Resort Operators of Lift-the-Latch Lodge on the French River, south of Sudbury. She was key to the success of their highly rated international tourist resort known for its food. In 1969 they retired to travel and golf. `Maggie' as her close friends called her was always on the go. As a young woman she travelled Ontario as an accomplished Highland Dancer. She was very active and loved curling, skiing and golf. A marvellous cook, and creatively talented, Marg was constantly sewing, quilting, knitting or doing stained glass. Much of what she made went to children and women of charitable causes and she was an active member of the I.O.D.E. in Sudbury for well over 30 years. A kind, considerate woman with a great sense of humour, she lived her life by accepting what comes, working hard and laughing as much as possible along the way. Ar rangements: Jackson & Bar nard Funeral Home. Respecting her wishes - no visitation or service. Donations may be made to: Northern Cancer Research Fund ­Judy Herold Bursary, the Shriner's Children's Hospitals of Ontario, or a charity of your choice.