Shirley Marlene Basaraba

Shirley Marlene Basaraba (Nee Crum), 75, died suddenly on Tuesday, January 22, 2019, in Edmonton, Alberta. She was born on April 14th, 1943 in Loon Lake, Saskatchewan, to Freda and John Crum (both deceased). Shirley was the identical twin to sister, Charlotte Crum (now Dowker) of Cobble Hill, BC. In 1961, she married L/Cpl Earl Basaraba and together they raised their daughter and son on Canadian Armed Forces Bases across Canada and in Germany. Shirley was a stay-at-home mom for 15 years before returning to work in the community, eventually working for the Department of National Defense, in Wainwright, Alberta, where she retired in 2009 after 28 years. Shirley is survived by her husband of 57 years, Chief Warrant Officer/Regimental Sergeant Major (retd.) Earl O. Basaraba, of the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry, her daughter Tammy Basaraba Tupper, son-in-law Ron, and two grand-children; Kazimir (23) and Torsten Sjoblom (21) of Vancouver, BC, and son Todd Basaraba, of Canmore Alberta, and his children; Arden (29), Jadian (26), Damon (22), twins: Dorian and Brynn (20), and great-grandchildren, Keira (8) and Emily Penney (6), of Edmonton. Shirley Basaraba was the heart and soul of the family and truly, the strength behind the uniform. A celebration of Shirley’s life will be held on February 9th, 2019 from 2 – 5pm at Hainstock’s Funeral Home, 9810-34th Avenue, in Edmonton, Alberta.