Prus, Shirley Mae (Nee Bamford)
June 9, 1939 – Foxwarren Manitoba
June 29, 2019 – Brooks Alberta
It is with great sadness that Shirley’s family announces her passing on the morning of Saturday June 29th, 2019 in Brooks while in the company of her loving family after a courageous fight with cancer.
Shirley was born on the family farm 5½ miles from Foxwarren, Manitoba to Percy and Ottie Bamford. Growing up on the farm were the best of times for Mom, reminiscing about those times with great jubilation to her dieing days.
Mom loved growing up there so much that any time she returned to Manitoba for reunions, family functions, or special events she would return to her roots and talk about it as if she was reliving her youth. “Those were the Good Old Days” we would repeatedly hear. Mom did all her schooling at nearby Foxwarren School, taking the “School Van”, which was a horse drawn enclosed sleigh, with older sister Joyce, younger sister Beverley and Mom’s cousins whom lived on the adjacent farm.
From a young age Mom enjoyed knitting, figure skating, track and field, especially running, CGIT (Canadian Girls in Training), and going to dances at the nearby towns. Especially dear to Mom was her very own one-acre parcel of land on the farm and cultivating the land with Grandpa. At age 17 Mom went to work for Manitoba Telephone Systems in nearby Shoal Lake, Manitoba. It was during this time that she met and began courting the local doctor in the community.
Mom and Dad were married on August 22nd, 1959 in Shoal Lake, and began to raise their family there. Holly arrived in 1960, Heather in 1962, and Robbie in 1966. During this time Mom taught figure skating, enjoyed camping, boating, snowmobiling, curling, and even hunting with Dad. Canning and freezing the harvest from the enormous garden was of paramount importance as Dad was often paid with chickens and other food or not at all.
In 1969 the family relocated to Parry Sound, Ontario where Mom continued her love of crafts and snowmobiling. The family moved west to Brooks, Alberta in 1970. Mom was very busy doing macramé, ceramics, cooking classes, needlepoint, crafts, knitting and sewing all while raising the family. After Robbie began school Mom had time for tennis, golf, biking, puzzles, crosswords, reading and painting. Thursday was “Hair Day” and Mom did not want to go anywhere without her hair being done. Mom’s hair was always impeccable.
Volunteer work was always important to Mom as she gave back through the Alter Guild, judging figure skating, being a Girl Guide Captain, and many other endeavours.
Mom loved the cabin at Lake Newell spending summers there after acquiring it in 1971. Mom and Dad moved to the cabin full time in 1996, with Mom saying, “They will have to take me out of here feet first I don’t want to be anywhere else.”
Shirley was predeceased by her Dad Percy Bamford 1979, Mom Ottie Bamford 1999, husband Dr. Robert Prus 2002, nephew Curtis Haliuk 2007, daughter Holly Prus 2016. Shirley leaves to mourn, daughter Heather (Kevin), son Robert (Trudy), grandsons Jeff and Kevin, and granddaughter Meagan.
The family is extremely grateful to all the health care professionals for the excellent and compassionate care given to Shirley throughout her illness. If friends so desire, memorial tributes, may be directed to Brooks and District Health Foundation, Bag 300, Brooks, Alberta T1R 1B3 in recognition of the superlative care she received there.
Funeral Service were held on Friday, July 5th at 2:00 PM from St. Alban’s Anglican Church. Rev. Ken Wells officiating. Interment at Brooks Cemetery. A reception followed at the Heritage Inn Hotel and Convention Centre. Condolences may be forwarded through Smith Funeral Home Ltd., Brooks www.sfh.ca.
Funeral arrangements entrusted to:
SMITH FUNERAL HOME LTD. AND CREMATORIUM
BROOKS, ALBERTA
Condolences may be forwarded through www.sfh.ca
Telephone 403-362-4636 or Toll Free (866) 362-4652
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