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With our everlasting love and devotion, the family of Shirley Ann Hill (nee Clement) announces the peaceful passing of our mother, grandmother and great grandmother, Shirley Ann Hill in Victoria, BC on May 24, 2023.
Mom leaves her sons, Craig (Brenda) and Bruce (Carla), as well as her son-in-law, Bud Goes, her six grandchildren, Courtney (Andrew Clarke), Cameron Goes (Hillary Barnes), Emily Hill (Nick Cooper), Emerson Hill, Connor Hill and Victoria Burt (Tre-Shawn), and her great grandson, Henry Clarke. Mom was predeceased by our dad, Ron Hill, her husband of sixty-three years, and by her daughter, Sharon Goes.
A devoted life partner of Ron, and a loving mother, grandmother, and great grandmother, Mom was the "rock” of our family, facing numerous health-related challenges through her lifetime, but always there to care for all of us. In love, support, and enjoyment of each of our steps through life.
Mom was born in Saskatoon, SK on November 19, 1929, and raised in Saskatoon, the daughter of Russell and Rhea Clement. She was predeceased by her parents and her brothers and sister, Dallas, Keith, Tom and Dorothy. She attended City Park Collegiate in Saskatoon, and following graduation, became an employee of the Royal Bank of Canada in Saskatoon and then Edmonton. She married Dad in 1954, and settled in Shellbrook, SK for eleven years where Ron was the town dentist. Mom served as Ron’s first dental assistant, in their office and apartment which was initially located above the "M & S Hardware Store” in Shellbrook. Mom's career with Dad's practice then shifted to the role of bookkeeper, a position which Mom occupied in excellent and thorough fashion until Ron’s retirement from his orthodontic practice in 1995!
Shirley and Ron had three children - Sharon, Craig and Bruce. After two years in Toronto (1965-1967), they moved to Saskatoon, where they resided until 1995. A move into retirement to Parksvillle/Qualicum, BC followed in 1995, and Mom remained in that area until 2018, following Dad’s passing in 2017. She then moved to "Cherish", a seniors retirement home in Langford, (Victoria), BC., where she quickly became a well-known, friendly resident and neighbour to the folks at Cherish.
During Mom’s long and well-lived life in Saskatoon, she was an active member and volunteer for the Royal University Hospital Women’s' Auxiliary for thirty years (including serving as Chair and working at the Hospital Gift Shop every week for years). She was also a highly effective “recruiter" of new volunteers to the Auxiliary! Mom was also a longtime Kiwanianne with the Saskatoon Kiwanis Club and a dedicated volunteer for "Meals-on-Wheels”.
She was also a devoted member of the Knox United Church communities in both Saskatoon and Parksville, serving on the Pastoral Care committees of both congregations.
During their “BC years”, Mom and Dad made visits to see their families in Calgary, London, Ontario, and Victoria. When the families would come out to Parksville for visits, Mom would always have suggestions of things for us to see and do, and we all have very fond and loving memories of wonderful picnics and bonfires at Rathtrevor Beach, attending July 1 parades, miniature golf matches, and many other activities. Mom had many lifetime friends, both in Saskatoon and Victoria, whom she also loved very much.
She loved receiving new reading material from her family and friends, and also kept busy with bridge games and other events at Cherish. While settling well into Cherish in 2018, she became more “mobility challenged” in her last few years. However, those challenges never held Mom back, and she never missed any activities or events, enjoying trips over to Sharon and Bud's home for family events, dinners and visits, drives all over the greater Victoria area, and prawn dinners at Whitespot! In fact, Mom was keen to watch the Victoria Day Parade every year, including on May 22 of this year!
Always with a cheerful, caring attitude and a philosophical attitude toward life, Mom carried on courageously as the "rock” of the family, despite the passing of both Dad and Sharon. Our special thanks go out to the wonderful ladies of “Open Hearts”, who attended at Cherish every day for Mom's care.
A celebration of Mom's well-lived life will be held at 2 pm on Saturday, September 30, 2023, at the residence of Bud Goes at 3153 Antrobus Crescent, Victoria, BC. In lieu of flowers, Mom would have been delighted if you chose to make a donation to a charity or cause of your own choice.
"What we have once enjoyed deeply we can never lose. All that we love deeply becomes part of us." Helen Keller