[Hi folks, I know some of you will be shocked to hear that we have lost Shirley Robinson, and so soon after the passing of Lil Jones. Last Tuesday, two days after Lil died, Shirley went into palliative care. She passed away last Friday (August 7). Your newsletters had already been sent by the time I heard. -Amy]
Shirley Morrice Maynes Robinson, 1942-2020
Shirley loved to laugh. I remember a few years back when we did our “musical entertainments” in the church hall, Shirley would fill a table with friends from the Red Hat Society and they always seemed to be having the best time.
By the time I met her about ten years ago, Shirley had raised her family, she had put in her decades of work at Concordia and earned her pension, and she had met the love of her life, Ronnie Robinson. They would go on travels and adventures together, thoroughly enjoying their retirement, at least until Ronnie developed health issues. Even then, Shirley kept both of their spirits up with her irreverent sense of humour. She was devastated when Ronnie passed away in 2018.
At that time Shirley made the tough decision to move into the Cavalier LaSalle Residence, where I’m sure she quickly became known as the life of the party.
Then came 2020, and lockdown. Shirley was grateful to the staff at the Cavalier for keeping everyone safe, and she tried to keep a positive outlook, but she missed getting out, seeing family and friends. She also worried about Barbara Smith, who had been her neighbour at the Cavalier but who had been moved to a CHSLD when her health deteriorated. Shirley had been visiting her, but couldn’t now. They still talked on the phone.
Shirley developed her own health problems during lockdown, and towards the end of May, landed in hospital with shortness of breath. She had open-heart surgery on May 29th and was back home by June 10th. Things went well at first but the wound didn’t close properly and became infected. So it was back to hospital for a second surgery on June 25th. She came through it okay, but couldn’t seem to regain her strength.
She is mourned by her five daughters and three grandchildren as well as many, many friends. There will be a private memorial with her immediate family, and a celebration of life on Saturday August 15th at Rideau Gardens in Dollard-des-Ormeaux. The service, officiated by Pastor Beryl, will be live-streamed. Follow this link to find out more.
Shirley embodied the spirit of the Red Hats, an international women’s group inspired by the poem Warning, by Scottish writer Jenny Joseph (excerpt):
When I am an old woman I shall wear purple
With a red hat which doesn’t go, and doesn’t suit me.
And I shall spend my pension on brandy and summer gloves
And satin sandals, and say we’ve no money for butter.
I shall sit down on the pavement when I’m tired
And gobble up samples in shops and press alarm bells
And run my stick along the public railings
And make up for the sobriety of my youth.
Rest in peace, dear Shirley.
To join the livestream of the celebration of Shirley’s life at 11AM Saturday, click here.
Read the obituary from the Montreal Gazette here.
Photo from Shirley’s Facebook profile.