Shirley Olive Savage

Shirley Olive Savage passed away peacefully at the Rockyview General Hospital on Friday, July 10, 2015 at the age of 92 years. Shirley was born in Moncton, NB, to parents Henry Thomas MacPherson and Mildred Florence Rushton. She completed her Registered Nurse training at Moncton City Hospital, and her specialty, Pediatric Nursing, at Montreal’s Children’s Memorial Hospital. After a year and a half in Montreal as a Pediatric Supervisor, Shirley returned to Moncton, where she met the love of her life, Peter James Savage. They married on October 7, 1949 and celebrated their honeymoon in Charlottetown, PEI. They moved to Calgary in November 1949 where she continued her nursing career at the Colonel Belcher Military Hospital until they started their family in 1952. In the early 1970’s she returned to nursing, requalifying for her RN and worked at the Sarcee Auxiliary Hospital and in several Doctor’s offices before retiring six years later. With Peter, she enjoyed their passions for art collecting (including volunteering as a docent at the Glenbow Museum), playing bridge, hiking, bird watching, and alpine gardening inspired by annual visits to Lake O’Hara (1950 to 2005). She had a lively sense of humor, was well read, cared deeply about current issues and always tried to bring out the best in those around her. Shirley is lovingly remembered by sons Douglas, Geoffrey (Lyn), daughter Nancy (Arnold Ames) and granddaughter Jessica Savage. Shirley is also survived by niece Jayne Minke and family, close friends Ruth Hitchcock, Marjorie Gibson, Norma St. Clair, and her caregivers, particularly Weris Mahamud, Darcy, Valerie, Candis, Christina and Coleen, all of whom have been so very supportive since Peter passed away in February of this year. She was also predeceased by her brother Dr. Ronald MacPherson of Saskatoon, SK and her two babies lost before their birth. A Celebration of Shirley’s Life will be held at FOSTER’S GARDEN CHAPEL, 3220 – 4 Street N.W., Calgary (across from Queen’s Park Cemetery) on Saturday, August 15, 2015 at 2:00 p.m. Interment took place on Wednesday, July 15, 2015 at Eden Brook Memorial Gardens. If friends so desire, memorial donations may be made directly to The Mustard Seed,102 – 11 Ave SE Calgary, AB, T2G 0X5. Expressions of sympathy may be forwarded to the family via the website www.fostersgardenchapel.ca.