Shirley was married to Donald Lummerding for 34 years before his passing and then with her long standing partner, Joe Moldenhauer for 27 years, of which their friendship spanned over 60 years.
She was a pillar of the Regina and Saskatchewan music and arts community. She taught piano for 50 years with the Regina music teacher association, and was beloved by her students.
She nurtured her students not only as their teacher, but as their mentor and confidently inspiring them to believe in themselves and gain their self -worth. Shirley was a beloved music adjudicator and examiner for the royal music conservatory, an avid supporter of the arts in any form. From the Regina symphony to the ballets to supporting up and coming Saskatchewan artists.
As an artist herself, she painted and took classes in various techniques from Japanese painting to water color, oils, and modern. Her other passions were traveling and exploring the world and various cultures. She loved gardening and tending to her many orchids. As she loved colors and all different flowers. She loved nature, going for walks, bird watching and going to look for deer and Moose.
Shirley never liked being the center of attention, but once you met her you never forgot her. She lived life in bright color just as she adored bright colors. Described as strong, vibrant, gracious, overly generous, compassionate, encouraging, giggly, wise, poise, extraordinary, and so much more.
She was strong in her faith and the Catholic Church. But also a women who believed and surrounded herself with strong, forward thinking independent women. Fierce believer in education and women being independent and strong. In a time when that wasn’t always the case
She was ahead of her time. Even in the 70’s, she was an advocate and friend of the LGBTQ+ community, everyone was welcome in her home, as her home was always open. She hosted parties with people from all walks of life. When people dropped over they never knew who they would meet, but everyone knew it would be fun.
Shirley and her friend Fran Olsen and Father Frey were on the forward track and started and opened a small artist colony at Kenosee Lake. They purchased small cabins from the Saskatchewan government for $1.00 and fixed them up and open artist studios. Which is still up and running to this day. 26 years later.
If you stopped by, she always welcomed you in and fed you.” Sit long and talk much” was the motto. Her home was often home to many of her friends and students who lived with her for weeks or months at a time, she became a second mother to many
Born in Canora, SK. but called Regina, SK. home, she also spent years at Kenosee Lake.
She was the youngest of three girls, born to Michael and Martha Kwansy. She had one child, Jada Aidun and two beloved grandchildren who she loved and adored, Aisha Aidun and Elias Aidun.
Shirley loved to travel abroad, and was a life-learner of cultures, history and the arts. "You can never be overdressed or overeducated," which sums up just a couple of her many tenets. She had an incredible sense of style which was undeniable from her signature red hair to her fashionable outfits to her iconic giggle and laughter. Shirley loved classical music, her favorite Bach prelude and fugue #9 and Mozart concerto #21 in c major. But she also loved various artist from Elvis Presley, whom she saw on her honeymoon, to Ray Charles, Elton John, The Temptations, Frank Sinatra, Tom Jones and many others. All of which she loved to dance to in her kitchen and out at the lake.
She will be greatly missed by all, but the heavens just gained a beautiful star twinkling in the sky and shining bright. Donations in Shirley’s memory may be made to the Royal Conservatory of Music www.rcmusic.com
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