Shirley Mary BYRNE

It is with the greatest sadness that we announce that Shirley Mary Byrne (nee Ryan) born June 11th, 1935 in Ottawa, Ontario passed away peacefully after a short illness surrounded by family on the morning of September 28th, 2023, free to join her beloved and greatly missed husband of almost 60 years, Donald.

Only daughter of Margaret, loving mother to Ken (Jahir) and Coleen (Andy), Nana to Shelby (Josh), Kyle, Tyler and Calum, beloved Aunt to many, many nieces and nephews and friend to all she met.  Shirley was grateful and felt so fortunate to have the family that she did, both the one she was born into and the one she was welcomed into and had created with the love of her life. Her heart was big enough for everyone.  

Passionate about nursing, it was Shirley's life's calling and she cared for others until the end. "It's a good thing I was here to look after those other ladies" she would say of her hospital ward bedmates.  We would smile and agree that they were lucky to have her, even if the nurses weren't too sure!

Generous and kind, thoughtful and funny, definitely sassy!  A laugh heard and recognizeable across a crowded room, with a smile so genuine it was hard not to smile too.  Born with red hair and Irish blood, she had a fire about her.  She was fearless, sometimes because she didn't know any better, but mostly because that's who she was.  She taught us all well.

We will love her forever and miss her always but take comfort that she is with us in our hearts, in our memories with stories we recall, in the little and big things we do everyday and in how we live our lives.  We are the lucky and grateful ones.

In her own words: "It was a life well lived.  A wonderful life."  We couldn't agree more. Now, "Bring on the G*dd*mn cat!! (hicccup)"

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