Shirley Mae Freckelton

Born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and growing up in Tufts Cove, she was the daughter of the late Alfred and Marjorie (Rose) Freckelton.

Guided by her deep Christian faith, she dedicated her life to service and education; as a result, her faith, compassion, and commitment to helping others touched countless lives across several continents.

Shirley graduated from Acadia University with a Bachelor of Arts (1952). For three years she taught at the Grand Ligne Mission in Quebec before returning to Acadia for her Bachelor of Education (1956). Feeling called to missionary work; she travelled to India in 1956 with Canadian Baptist Ministries (CBM) and worked at various schools until she returned home in 1969. During this time, she worked for two years at Ross Road School. In 1972 she was the first CBM missionary to be redeployed from one location to another when she joined their Task Force in Kenya. In 1981, she helped launch Into All The World Mission in Kenya, where she remained until her retirement in 2000 when she returned to Dartmouth.

She was an active and devoted member of Bethel United Baptist Church, where she found community, friendship, and purpose. For over 20 years she was an involved community member and was a volunteer with the Tartan Team at Halifax Stanfield International Airport for several years. She eventually developed memory problems that required her to enter long-term care.

In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by her brothers Donald, Alfred Jr., and Carl; her sister Marjorie; as well as sister‑in‑law Heather and brothers‑in‑law Aubrey MacDonald and Keith Mathias.

She leaves behind her sister Esther (Aubrey) and her sister‑in‑law Mona (Alfred Jr.), as well as many beloved nieces, nephews, and their children and grandchildren.

Shirley's funeral service will take place on June 27, 2026, at 1:00pm, at A.L. Mattatall Funeral Home, 217 Portland Street, Dartmouth. A reception will follow.

The funeral will be recorded and uploaded to this link: https://event.forgetmenotceremonies.com/ceremony?c=19f2704e-b86a-4589-8cc4-a0c741bb5e1a

In lieu of flowers please make a donation to the charity of your choice.