My mom, Shirley, was such a beautiful, passionate, empathetic person. She was caring, creative, interested in almost anything, and resourceful. My favourite characteristics about my mom were her passionate interest in how life works, her love of driving and camping adventures, her giddy laugh over sillinesses, her hugs, how she could patiently teach you to play a new game or how to bake something with the tricks. She could show my kids the wonders of nature like rocks, crystals, feathers, leaves, bugs and the moon. I will always remember her picking up speed down a big hill as we’d drive her empty school bus home after work when I was 4, to experience the butterflies; she encouraged me to pursue an education and to believe in myself that I could do anything I set my mind to; our last game of crib that we had together over facetime that was full of laughter and lightheartedness; how she devoted herself to looking after her parents…I could fill pages of loving memories that I have of my dear mom who had to leave us before she could complete many of her own dreams, but her life has definitely left a mark of joy in many people’s hearts and she will be hugely missed by all of her family and friends.
