Mary SHEDDY

SHEDDY _ Florence Mary Florence Mary Sheddy passed away June 3, 2003, her parents' anniversary. She was "The Wind Beneath our Wings" and a hero to all who knew her. She was predeceased by her husband of fifty-eight years, Ossie Sr. in September 2000. Florence leaves to mourn, daughter Mary (Peter) Maxie, and their son Fred of Phoenix, Arizona; son Bill of Vancouver, and his children, Reina and Jenny of Drumheller, Jim, Patrick, and Kelsey of Vancouver; son Ossie Jr. (Melody) of Drumheller, and their children, Gerry Oliphant of Whistler, BC, Chris (Marnie) Oliphant, Erin (Damon Ivanics) of Calgary, and Bob of Drumheller; as well as great-grandchildren, Taos, Spencer and Calvin Oliphant, Jadin and Mady Sheddy, and Ryanne Maxie. She is also survived by her sister Muriel (Don) Cameron of Edmonton; and brother Bob (Bette) Durrant of Vancouver; as well as many nieces and nephews. Florence was born to Bob and Lucinda Durrant in Rosetown, SK, May 28, 1918. She moved with her family to Wainwright, and Bowden, and then graduated as a Registered Nurse from the Miseracordia Hospital in Edmonton. She came to Drumheller to nurse at the Wayne and Drumheller Hospitals, until she married Ossie in 1942. Florence always volunteered, and belonged to many organizations, including the Best Bridge Club in the World, which is now in its sixtieth year, and the Good Tyme Dance Club. She was a longtime member of the Ladies' Circle at Knox United Church, and a CGIT leader. She enjoyed Kayettes, Alberta Association of Registered Nurses, Eastern Star, where she was Worthy Matron, and Daughters of the Nile, and was a keen curler and golfer as well. Florence was circulation manager at the Drumheller Mail till she was in her eighties. She was honored by the Alberta Weekly Newspapers Association with a Bronze Quill award for service to the newspaper industry. After Ossie died in 2000, Florence moved to Vancouver, but spent winters in Phoenix. Florence was the mentor, the encourager, the wind beneath the wings of all her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, and was unfailingly cheerful, despite her increasing immobility with osteoporosis and arthritis. She was an accomplished singer and pianist who played piano by ear and with music. She decided to take piano lessons when she was in her sixties and seventies, to keep her hands limber. She encouraged all her children and grandchildren to take piano lessons, and instilled a love of all kinds of music in them. She especially enjoyed listening to them play and sing at the Music Festival. She also spent hours doing needlepoint pictures, knitting Stop and Go mittens of varying sizes for children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, as well as for church bazaars. A Memorial Service will be held in Drumheller in July. If friends wish, contributions are welcome to the Friends of the Tyrrell Museum, Nursing scholarships, or Breast Cancer research. The family would appreciate your memories of Florence by e-mail to maxiemary@hotmail.com or to Mary at 3614 E. Marmora Street, Phoenix, AZ 85032. 132321