Obituary of Shirley Lashbrook

Shirley Elizabeth Lashbrook was born on April 23, 1926 on the family farm in Cowal, Elgin County and died Tuesday, September 12, 2017 after a year-long fight with lung cancer. Shirley is predeceased by her loving husband, Lynn (1996), her parents David and Flora (Dennis) Carroll, and her brothers, Donald (2009) and Jackie (1938). She will be dearly missed by her daughters Heather (Richard Jones), Jane (Sandy Sherman) and Laurie (Doug Ferguson); her grandson, Lashbrook and granddaughter, Erika, step-grandchildren Sarah, Duncan, Kayla and Caitlin and two step great granddaughters Nicole and Ayva and her dear friend, Bruce McCallum. Shirley was fiercely independent and eternally optimistic. At 88 she renewed her passport for 10 years. She loved bright pink, live theatre, creating quilts, shopping and happy hour. A world traveller, she always had her next trip planned before returning home. She celebrated her 89th birthday at Machu Picchu in Peru. She found her calling in teaching and spent more than 25 years in the classroom touching the lives of many students. Shirl always defied her age. She played in three golf leagues until she was 85 and three bridge clubs until she was 91. Her happy place was the cottage on Lake Huron, where she spent her summers enjoying the sunsets from her deck. Shirley’s top priority was always family, creating a close knit loving group who stayed by her side to the end. She passed on to her daughters a love of learning, acceptance of others, the importance of community and how to throw a great party. None of them really learned to sew. It is with deep sadness that they wish her bon voyage and send her on her final trip. Visitation will be held at WESTVIEW FUNERAL CHAPEL, 709 Wonderland Road North, London on Friday from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. where the funeral service will be conducted on Saturday, September 16th, 2017 at 11:00 a.m. Private family interment. Donations gratefully accepted to The Caring Fund at Thames Valley District School Board that assists students in financial need to fully participate in their education or The Cancer Patient Assistance Fund at the London Health Sciences Centre. -30-