Obituary of Shirley Edna Nelson

SHIRLEY EDNA NELSON (1930 – 2016) On June 20, 1930 Shirley Edna Nelson was born to Edna Meadowcroft and Ernest Roy Bruton. Shirley spent her childhood growing up in North Toronto and after completing her education, she began her working career at the Toronto Star, followed by employment at the Toronto Telegram. On September 15, 1978 Shirley married John Charles Nelson in Wildfield, Ontario. Firstly residing in Thornhill, they then moved in 1987 to Ril Lake, Muskoka. They remained there until 1999 when Lakefield became their new home. Shirley was a very outgoing person who enjoyed organizing events and who held a wide range of interests that included both social activities as well as quiet, personal moments. From gardening and being an accomplished flower arranger, doing crafts and needlepoint, enjoying a spectrum of music from country to classical, golfing and figure skating when she was young, through to being an extremely skilled cook and baker, Shirley’s pastimes were diverse. Her greatest passion was traveling with John where she journeyed extensively to nearly every continent, visiting exotic locations such as China, Russia, Turkey, Egypt and some of the countries in Central America. She was able to combine this passion of travel with her love of photography and videography to capture many memorable images. Shirley derived enjoyment from helping others, serving as the church’s social organizer in Muskoka and being an active member in the local Anglican Church. Over the years, she volunteered at both Toronto General Hospital and the Huntsville Hospital. Friends and family will remember Shirley for her love of travel, her fondness of dogs, as well as being a wonderful homemaker. On Thursday, October 6, 2016 Shirley passed away at Peterborough Regional Hospital. A Celebration of Life for Shirley will be held on Wednesday November 9, 2016. Visitation will occur at the Hendren Funeral Home in Lakefield from 12:30 - 1:45 pm on that date. At 1:45, Shirley will be piped across the street to St. John the Baptist Anglican Church where the service will occur to celebrate Shirley’s life. Donations in Shirley’s memory made to the Canadian National Institute for the Blind would be appreciated by the family. She will be remembered by her husband John and son Lawrence Meadowcroft Chesson. She will also be missed by her grandchildren Dylan Neitz (Brennan) and Kristen Graham (Jamie); her great-grandchildren Alyssa and Logan; her brothers Douglas (Ruth) and Glenn (Marilyn); her nephews Peter, Danny and Shaun; and her niece Kathy.