December 3, 2019
Sad to report the passing of beloved mother Shirley-Ann Smith at Saanich Peninsula Hospital on December 3, 2019 at age 95. Shirley was predeceased by her loving husband W.D. Smith, her brothers Gordon and Ross and her son Donald Scott.
Shirley resided in Sidney, BC for the last 20 years. She was born in Winnipeg, MB the first child of Douglas and Eleanor Edmond. She attended schools in River Heights and graduated from Riverbend (now Balmoral Hall) in 1940. She attended the University of Manitoba, receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1947 and a diploma in social work in 1948. Her studies were interrupted by two and a half years of armed services in which she served as a sergeant in the intelligence Corps at the Japanese Language Training Station in Vancouver. In 1967 she completed her Master of Social Work at the University of Manitoba at the age of 43.
After marriage, she and her husband moved to Brandon, where she worked for the Children's Aid Society, then as a psychiatric social worker at the Brandon Hospital for Mental Diseases. Returning to Winnipeg with her husband and three children, she undertook graduate studies for three years. Shirley was then employed by the University of Manitoba as Dean of Women. Six years later, she resigned and started work as a Social Development Officer in the Department of Secretary of State, Government of Canada. She retired at age 60. She was then appointed to the Board of Regents of the University of Winnipeg and served from 1974 to 1979. Shirley was very involved in community service and was made a life member of the Brandon Council of Women and the University Women's Club. She contributed to the Status of Women in Canada, writing many articles and reports on women's education.
Shirley is survived by her daughter Monica and son David, daughter-inlaw Donna, grandsons Spencer and Brandon, and great granddaughter Siena. Shirley and Bill loved reading, entertaining, laughing, singing, travelling, and being with family and friends.
Following her wishes, Shirley has already been cremated. Interment services will follow with family and friends in different parts of the country.