Shirley Burchill

Shirley Marguerite BURCHILL

November 3, 1934 - March 24, 2015

Shirley was born in Meadow Lake, Saskatchewan to Herbert and Marion Weese at the height of the depression, but in the abundant land of the north. People lived off the land, growing and sharing their toils, food and joys of the times. She died peacefully in her sleep at Carefree Lodge in Toronto, Ontario. She is survived by her husband Gordon and two sons David and Geoffrey and her grandchildren Elyse and Max; Dillon and Zeke. Also her brother and sister-in-law Donald and Gwyneth Weese and son Eric, and her sisters-in-law Vera (Weese) and her children Kevin and Elana, and Marlene and her children Karen and Sharlene. Shirley was a wife, lover, friend, mother, mentor, homemaker, gardener and caring friend to all. She was a listener and a caring person. She was a Social Worker and a popular supporter of neighbours and community wherever she lived.

Growing up in Meadow Lake she learned to play piano and taught others to play as well. As she matured she also volunteered to play for church, community parties and Sunday school. She was active in sports, loved the game of curling and was always the first in her class at school. She went to university and paid her way by joining the Air Force Reserve University Training Program (RUTP). Aside from regular parades during the years, she trained and worked at Canadian Airforce stations in Centralia, London, Yellowknife, Trenton and Montreal. She was able to fly and 'see the world' to such places as London, Paris, Boston and Washington, DC. Airforce officers had to fly "required" hours every month to maintain their rank. They always had room for young female passengers like Shirley to accompany them as their earned required flying time.

She graduated from the University of Saskatchewan with a Bachelor of Arts and from the University of Manitoba with a Bachelor of Social Work. She worked as a Social Worker in North Battleford and Saskatoon, Saskatchewan and Red Deer, Alberta. Her professional career paused for twenty years while she raised two sons and followed her husband to London and Toronto, Ontario. When her sons left home for university she went back to university to re-establish her credentials in Social Work at York University. She spent the next seventeen years working as a Social Worker for Metropolitan Toronto. She had a varied and satisfying career. Perhaps the most satisfying was as "Counsellor" to single mothers, helping them enter the work force. Shirley had many other assignments and won outstanding recognition for her work from peers, upper management and the Mayor. She retired with a feeling of satisfaction for a job well done. Upon retirement, she focused her attention on gardening and playing piano.

Shirley was a treasure in the lives of those of us who love her and those who learned from her. We are grateful for the time we had with her. Our deepest thanks go to the staff of the North York Seniors Centre and Carefree Lodge, who provided warm and respectful care for both Shirley, her husband and family as they learned the painful road of Alzheimer's Disease. It was a road made as comfortable as possible by all the people employed in these institutions.

A Memorial Service for Shirley will be held on Saturday, April 18, 2015 at 2 p.m. at St. Cyprian's Anglican Church. In lieu of flowers, contributions to the Alzheimer Society is appreciated. Condolences www.rskane.ca