5 August 1945 – 15 May 2010
It is with immense sadness that we must announce the sudden loss of our beloved Mom, Mother in law, Grandma, sister, Aunt, and friend Shirley Vanderkemp.
After a tragically brief 2 month battle with lymphoma Shirley died peacefully on a beautiful sunny Saturday afternoon while surrounded by her loving son and daughters at the Victoria General Hospital.
She will be profoundly missed by her children; Rod Vanderkemp of Surrey, BC, Teresa (Mark) Svensson of Victoria, BC, and Shauna (George) Stotts of Courtenay, BC. Her absence will also be keenly felt by her grandchildren; Kerry Vanderkemp, Malcolm Svensson, & Becca Stotts.
She is survived by her two older sisters; Margaret (Murray) Shackel of Merville, BC, Winnie Smith of Oliver, BC and by her older brother Cameron (Shirley) Smith of Abbotsford, BC. Nieces, nephews, friends, and colleagues are also left to mourn her sudden death.
She was a wonderful mother, loving all of her children unconditionally & supporting them without judgments through all of life’s ups & downs. She was an exceptionally perfect Grandma to her 3 grandkids, loving them tremendously & spoiling them just the right amount.
Shirley was only 64 years young & had recently taken an early retirement after working for 32 years as a very dedicated employee of Zellers. While most will remember her smiling face from the Courtenay store she had spent the last few years working in the jewelry department at the Campbell River store.
Our Mom was the kindest, sweetest lady who lived a very simple life. After her husband, Leo, died in 2003 she sold her house in Merville and moved to her dream condo on the ocean in Willow Point, Campbell River. She loved nothing more than to sit on her patio along with her two feline friends, Tasha & Queequeg, with a hot cup of tea & a good novel, enjoying her spectacular view.
Although no service has been planned Shirley’s family hope that friends, acquaintances, & loved ones will take the time to share any special memories or stories they have about Shirley in the condolences section below. We would also like to encourage you to visit the memorial page our family has set up, “In loving memory of Shirley Vanderkemp”, at the www.bccancerfoundation.com website. For those who wish to do so, a donation to the BC Cancer Foundation in honour of Shirley’s life can be made via this memorial page.
“Just like me, they long to be – close to you…”
27 Responses
I am so sorry to Shirley’s family for thier loss. Shirley was a wonderful lady, who was always straight up and told things like they were. I wasn’t as fortunate as some who had worked with her or known her for many years, but what I knew of Shirley I liked. I know she loved her family and friends dearly and she will be missed. I can’t walk past the jewelery counter without thinking about her. Her laugh was contagious and she was a great person.
My deepest sympathies to Rod, Theresa and Shauna…I worked at Zellers in Campbell River with your mom Shirley for the past 5 1/2 yrs. I have many fond memories of your mom and conversations that we had and all the support she offered me in times of need. She truly is someone that I will miss dearly, it just doesn’t seem the same around work without Shirley, I miss hearing her voice over the PA making announcements, she had a beautiful voice and could articulate everything just so, she really had a talent. Take comfort in knowing what an impact your mom had on everyone and how lasting those memories will be. She reallly was bigger than life.
With love,
Michelle
Our sympathies go out to the family of Shirley. I have known and worked with Shirley for the last 30 years. She was a very special lady to me. I will miss her immensely. Our prayers are with you
To Shirley’s Family my condolences to each and everyone of you.To her co-workers and friends I feel your sadness and loss .Shirley was a wonderful person and a very hard worker.We already missed her the day after her last day of work. We all had great plans to visit and chat and catch up with her retirement life. I will miss her storys and her radiant smile.She will always forever be in our hearts.
I was blessed to have worked with Shirley for 5 1/2 years, and she was such a ball of energy and laughter. When they moved the pharmacy and jewellery to opposite ends of the store, I missed her smile every day on the way to my department so I’d try to make the time to stop and see her more often than the once a week to pick up our special signs. We’d often commiserate about whatever was bothering us and always, always we ended up laughing. She was a joy to know and honestly, I never thought we’d lose her. Her strength, her kindness and her laughter will linger in our hearts.
our sincere condolences rod teresa shauna.your mom was the bestfriend ever we were so glad to have had the chance to see her in january.we had a lot of good times with your mom &dad .we will miss shirley very much. our thoughts are with you at this time . love brian sue
With Shirley went a book of knowledge. She taught many people over the years how to do things right and her way. She was the foundation of our store in CR. If we needed to know something it was Shirley we asked. When I lost my Mom to cancer a year and a half ago Shirley was there with a shoulder to cry on then also to tell me to buck up that Mom wouldnt want to see me cry. Im going to miss you my friend and teacher…..thank you!
To the family I am so sorry for your loss. I worked with Shirley the whole time she was in Campbell River. She became a really true, good friend who I would talk to about my family with and the trials that came along with being a single mom. She always supported me, and often told me how much she loved getting my “Christmas Letters”. She had such a big heart, which she showed me often, even just this past December when I was off the whole month after having surgery she sent me a beautiful card and beautiful flower arrangement because she knew I would appreciate it so much. She was right. As a co-worker she was so great to me. Whenever I needed help from her with price changes she would jump at the chance to do my “bulletins” in jewelery. She loved doing them, she loved to work Hard! She loved it also when I would try to get equipment for her every morning….and she realized it was really for me I was getting it as she was doing my work for me. She had a good heart. I loved her dearly. I can’t tell you how much this hurts to have her gone from us. Its too much….three in a year….Our store is mourning deeply for the loss of Shirley Vanderkemp.
With sympathy to the family,
Shirley and i worked together for 20yrs at Zellers in Courtenay, it was a wonderful friendship, she was always a happy person and a special lady to work with.
I ‘ll miss her very much, rest in peace.
Annette