Shirley Lefebvre

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of our mother, Shirley Elizabeth Lefebvre (nee Brown) on November 24, 2023, at St. Joseph's Continuing Care Center at the age of 88 following complications from vascular dementia. Shirley was a devoted wife, a proud and loving mother, a cherished grandmother and a compassionate friend to those who knew her best.

Our Mom was born on February 28, 1935, to Stephen and Elizabeth Brown. In her youth she attended the old Wood School for girls on Montreal Rd and enjoyed swimming from the Silver Bridge at the foot of Marlborough Street. She left school early to help provide for her family, working at the Canada Cotton Mills and Ernie's Grill, where she met her future husband Gerry Lefebvre.

Our parents married in August of 1953, beginning a 61 year adventure. Together they raised two sons, and also partnered in business, first with Cornwall City Press, and later with Gerry's Kwik Print. While Dad ran the presses and made sure the jobs were done on time, Mom did just about everything else, from soliciting business to greeting clientele, accounting and ordering stock. She was always on the go, often taking work home and putting in 16 hours days. Dad often said that Kwik Print would not have been the success it was without Mom's admirable work ethic.

Mom enjoyed annual winter travels to Myrtle Beach, Florida, snowmobiling, golfing, gardening, bingo and red wine. She had a dozen handwritten cookbooks of recipes handed down from generations. If ever there was a friend in need, Mom was a friend indeed, always going above and beyond to help out any friend through a hard patch. Her compassionate and caring ways taught us all, and she would be proud to know that we consider her sympathetic nature to be her greatest enduring legacy.

Our Mom was a woman and mother who voiced her opinion and spoke her mind, often unfiltered. Her tough exterior belied a softer soul, one which only wanted the best for those she loved most. At her last home, she was a cherished resident who exhibited good humour, joking and dancing with the staff members charged with her care.

Shirley is survived by her sons Gerry (Linda) and Robert (Joanne); five grandchildren: Melissa (Nourredine Ismag), Crystal, Dylan, Robyn (Derrick Viau) and Sarah; and her great-grandchildren Winter, Jacob, Zara, Lewis and Lily. She is fondly remembered by many nieces and nephews; Debbie Killoran (Shawn), Jo-Anne Poirier (Dave), Gabriel Poirier (Nancy), Francois Poirier (Diana), Michelle Poirier-Patry (J.P.), Suzanne Poirier (Scott) and Dale Brown. Her memory is kept alive by good friends and relatives Dawn Ruest, Leah Herrington, Anna Disotel, Linda Marcil, Sylvia Villeneuve and Gale McNally. Shirley is pre-deceased by her husband Gerry, her parents Stephen and Elizabeth Brown, her brother Stephen Brown Jr (Lorraine Kennedy, late Viola), her sister Maureen Poirier (late Lionel) and her sister-in-law Dolly (late Robert Liscomb).

Our family would like to thank Dr. Patel and his amazing staff at St. Joseph's Continuing Care Center for their compassion, dedication and professionalism in our greatest time of need. From the moment Mom arrived there, until her final hours, the nurses and PSWs on duty helped provide her with a comfortable and welcoming setting perfectly geared to her condition. It was relief to us all that she was safe and well there. Cornwall is fortunate to have such an outstanding facility.

We would also like to thank Brian Kennedy and his staff at the Riverfront Retirement Residence. Because of Mom's quickly declining condition, she had difficulty adapting to retirement living. It was a challenge for both staff and family, and their gentle handling of Mom when she was her most unruly was truly appreciated and will never be forgotten.

Tammy Johnson, Registered Nurse with Champlain CCAC (now the LIHN) was the essential angel we needed at the time. Tammy astutely recognized Mom's condition was progressing faster than was manageable, and she fastidiously worked to get her transitioned from Riverfront to St. Joseph's. Her efforts allowed our family to rest a lot easier, and we have been thankful for her help ever since. Mom was brought to a suitable and safer home thanks to Tammy.

More recently, as our Mom's condition took a sudden decline, Dr. Lemire at the Cornwall Community Hospital served us well. Not only did she give us a straight up assessment of where matters stood, she compassionately eased us towards making the most comfortable choices for Mom's end of life. Her words were wisdom we appreciated hearing.

With respect for our Mom's wishes, cremation has taken place. A graveside celebration of her life will be held on December 2 at 1 p.m. at Notre Dame Cemetary.

Dementia / Alzheimer's is the cruelest of illnesses. We watched as it robbed our Mom of her memory, her anonymity, much of her dignity and her personality. Medical science is making great advances in better understanding the causes and what can be done to prevent it. One day, a cure will become a possible goal.

In lieu of flowers, we ask and encourage you that if our Mom ever did any good by you in any way, that you please consider making a donation in her name to the St. Joseph's Continuing Care Center or to Alzheimer's Society of Cornwall.