Obituary of Shirley Leone Hall

Hall, Shirley Leone (Keyes)

On Saturday May 19^th 2018, Shirley drew her final breath and left this life. She died at home in the arms of loved ones, hearing words of comfort and support for a life well-lived.  Shirley was a woman of strong heart, with fierce determination and a compelling sense of doing what is right. Her commitment to justice led to fiery letters to editors and CEOs over the course of her life. She was not one to bow easily to the powerful forces of mindless bureaucracy or even cancer.  She was thoughtful and reflective, always willing to take responsibility for her part in relationships. Friends and acquaintances sought her out in times of trouble. There was so much of life that Shirley loved and enjoyed; good friends and family, playing bridge, throwing horseshoes and darts (especially when she won), alternatively rooting for and swearing at the Maple Leafs, country music and dancing, new adventures in food, lunch with Helen and the Al-Anon ‘girls’, quiet time and reading, a lovely glass of wine with crackers and hummus at the end of the day, sunrise and sunset.  She was a steadfast partner with Jack for sixty-two years of marriage, meeting the challenges, high points and heartbreaks of life with a love that endured and matured over time. She was a much loved, plain-speaking, ever youthful and creative spirit who was astonished and moved by the love that came pouring toward her in the final weeks of her life. To a fault, she didn’t recognize how much she has contributed to the people and places she encountered over the years.

Her loss will be felt most keenly by her family, husband Jack, daughters Margaret and Wendy, son Peter, grandchildren, Sam, Max, Sarah and her husband Rudy, Jessica and her partner Tim, JD, and great grand-daughter Jayda. She will be sorely missed by her sister Evelyn Kennedy of Ripley and the Kennedy nieces, nephews, their partners and children. Shirley is predeceased by her parents Hazel and Elwin Keyes of Teeswater, her brother James Elwin Keyes, son-in-law Sandy Hart and brother-in-law Colin Kennedy.

To acknowledge two different phases of Shirley’s life, two celebrations of life will be held. The first will be held on Saturday June 9^th at the Vintage Green complex in Ilderton, 3 Ilderbrook Circle, N0M 2A0 from 1pm – 3pm. The second will be held on Saturday June 16^th in Lions Head at the Rotary Hall from 1pm-3pm. We will share stories, listen to a little country western and reflect together on the ordinary-extraordinariness of Shirley. The family encourages anyone with Shirley stories to come and share them.

Memorial donations can be made to the Women’s Rural Resource Centre in Strathroy.

A special thank you goes from the family to Dr. James Mather and Paula Day at the Middlesex Medical Clinic in Ilderton and the CCAC E-Shift staff for their excellent and tender care.