Shirley Eileen Penney

We regret to announce the passing of our beloved mother and grandmother, Shirley Eileen Penney (nee Mercer). Shirley died peacefully in hospital surrounded by love, with family by her side and present in spirit, on June 19, 2018, following a sudden and brief illness. She was 92 years old. Shirley was born on December 20, 1925, in Sydney, NS. Daughter of the late Charles and (Harriet) May Mercer. She was the last surviving member of her immediate family. Shirley was the matriarch of our family. She is survived by her children, Thomas Penney and Leona Penney, both of Sydney; her grandchildren, whom she adored, Kevin MacDonald (Rankin Inlet), Penney (Jordan) MacDonald, (Edmonton), Brendan MacDonald (Bathurst), and Devin (Clare) MacDonald (Sydney); many special nieces and nephews; and extended family and friends. Shirley was fortunate to have had special relationships with many close family members and friends throughout her life. Shirley was predeceased by her beloved husband of 55 years, Leo Penney; her siblings, Dorothy Mercer (in childhood), Earl (Lillian) Mercer, Charlie (Barbara) Mercer, Albert (Lillian) Mercer, and Ruth (George) Pott. Shirley was a parishioner of St. Marguerite Bourgeoys Parish (formerly St. Joseph’s Parish) in Sydney. She was a 63 year member of the Catholic Women’s League of Canada. Shirley was an expert quilter and crafter. Her talents extended across many mediums and she could often be found in her home working away on her latest project. She was a founding member and the current president of the Breton Quilters, a quilting and craft instructor, and avid supporter of local artisans and crafters, as well as being instrumental in the creation of what eventually became the Cape Breton Centre for Craft and Design. Shirley often donated her quilts and various handicrafts to the benefit of others and many charitable causes. Shirley was a current member of the ‘Women of Peace and Hope,’ an initiative which through crafting raises money for hospice beds. Shirley has spent a lifetime doing the quilting and crafts that she loved, and those of us who were lucky enough to have some of her handiwork are fortunate to have a small piece of her with us. Shirley’s talents extended well beyond the world of quilting and crafting. She was an expert cook and baker, an accomplished seamstress, healer of all wounds, fixer of all things, a skilled cardshark, and the most gracious host to many. She enjoyed time with others, classic cinema, crossword puzzles, card games, furiously reading, and her many cherished feline companions through the years – the most recent her faithful companion ‘Smokey.’ Shirley loved spending time at her summer home in Grand Greve. Many wonderful days and nights were spent there with countless friends and family as well as many visitors from afar. Trips to ‘the country’ included time with loved ones, fun sun-kissed days, picking blueberries and eating subsequent blueberry pies, watching sunsets from the hilltop, nights spent-in playing Rummy, and leisurely strolls on Point Michaud beach while looking for the most coveted sand dollars. Shirley was incredibly resilient and overcame tremendous challenges and obstacles throughout her life, most recently, the loss of her family home of more than 70 years in the flooding of October 2016. She hand-built this home with her husband and neighbours, and it became the venue of our many family gatherings and was the epicenter of so much joy and love. Shirley was a gentle and kind soul. She was funny and lively, with great wit and a sharp intellect. Love and laughter could be found wherever she was. Shirley made so many feel at home in her presence. She was a safe and welcoming place to go in times of distress offering comfort and warmth, and lodging if needed. Shirley was so loved by so many. Words cannot begin to convey the loss that we feel, and we know that this loss is not our own, as we shared our precious mother and grandmother with so many others. Although we cannot right now imagine our lives without her, we feel very grateful that she got to be ours. And even though we thought she would live forever, we are ever grateful to have had her for as long as we did. Visitation will be held on Monday June 25, 2018 from 6-9pm at TW Curry Parkview Chapel, George St. Sydney. The Funeral Mass is schedule for Tuesday at 2pm, at St. Marguerite Bourgeoys Parish in Sydney, with Fr. Bill Burke officiating. Following the service, interment will take place in Resurrection Cemetery, Sydney Forks. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Hospice Palliative Care Society of Cape Breton with donations directed towards ‘Hospice Beds.’ Condolences can be sent to the family www.twcurry.com.

Our family would like to thank staff at City Homemakers, the Cape Breton Regional Hospital, as well as Dr. Glen Worth and Dr. Gordon Yeung for the compassionate care received.