It is with great sadness that the family of Shirley Anderson announces her passing on Thursday, April 22, 2021 at the age of 89 years. Shirley was predeceased by her parents Alec and Jean Anderson, and her sister Gail Rowse. She is survived by her nephews Steven (Kathleen) and Scott (Anne) and her niece, Sandra (George). Born and educated in Victoria, Shirley graduated from the Royal Jubilee Hospital School of Nursing in 1953. She became an assistant head nurse and then went on to pursue a career as a nurse educator. In 1960 she accepted a teaching position at Montreal General Hospital’s school of nursing. Returning to Victoria in 1962 Shirley joined the faculty at the RJH School of Nursing where she remained in various capacities for 17 years. She was dedicated to building the program and was equally dedicated to making sure students and staff met with success. In 1979 Shirley became Director of Staff Development until her retirement. She served two terms as president of the Victoria District of the RNABC and was also president of the RJH Alumnae Association from 1980 to 1983. Shirley served on many committees over the years including the Memorial Chapel and the Archives committees at RJH. Shirley was well respected and loved by those who had the good fortune to cross her path. The consummate people person, Shirley remained deeply connected to so many people throughout her life, including her close community of friends at the Apple Tree restaurant. A gracious and kind woman, she always found ways to bring out the best in others. Her presence will be missed by the many people whose lives were touched by her. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Shirley’s name to the Registered Nurses Foundation of BC bursary program https://rnfbc.ca/donate/or RNFBC, 506 – 595 Howe Street, Vancouver, BC, V6C 2T5.
Condolences may be offered to the family below.
McCall Gardens
www.mccallgardens.com.
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Marcia and Terry Dempster
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Damone Anderson daughter of Mona Anderson Shirley was such a diverse, kind, observant lady and greeted everyone with a smile. My condolences to her family and many friends. Indeed I joined her at the Apple Tree many times to catch up on life and laugh. Love and light.
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Doreen (Larsen) Riedel To Shirley’s Family
Initially I met Shirley through her sister, Gail Rowse, who was in my January ’57 class. Shirley was so supportive of all of us, and a wonderful role model. Although I moved to Ontario after I graduated, whenever I got together with my class mates in Victoria, Shirley always joined us, and continued to do so after Gail was gone. She was a wonderful link to all my nursing experiences at RJH and will be remembered by many who knew her.
Doreen Riedel Class of Jan ’57
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Helen Joslin To Shirley’s family,
On behalf of Helen Joslin we would like to pass on our condolences to the family. Helen knew Shirley from grad one at Beacon Hill through to Vic High and on to Nursing. They kept in contact at both the RN and Vic High reunions. Shirley will be missed by many friends from both the school and RN circles.
Brian Joslin
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Cathrine and Stephen Lowery To the Family of Shirley Anderson:
Our Heartfelt Condolence are with the Families and Friends of Shirley Anderson. We are so sorry for your loss at this time.
Our hearts are full of gratitude to have had the honour of meeting and knowing Shirley and many of her Family and Friends (she had many). Shirley was a very knowledgable, loving, caring, thoughtful person, a very strong and independant woman. We met Shirley at the Apple Tree and our friendship blossomed from there.
We had many Lunches and Dinners together with laughter, fun, memories and grocery shopping trips. We would try to be there for Shirley if she needed anything.
Shirley will be missed and forever in our hearts.Love and Hugs,
Cathrine and Stephen Lowery
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Diane Clements Although the Alumnae Association of the RJH School of Nursing dissolved in Dec 2019 on their behalf, as their last President I would like to extend our heartfelt condolences to Shirley’s family and friends. She was a wonderful resource on our very last task committee to develop the permanent legacy display case at RJH. Always thoughtful and respectful of everyone’s perspectives Shirley provided the committee with an in depth history that filled in many gaps. Her consistent service over half a century to the Alumnae Association and as Past President, along with her decades as a nurse educator she was always supportive of the RJH Alumnae bursary held at the RN Foundation of BC. Shirley will be remembered as an empathetic professional who mentored many nurses now retired or still practicing, at the bedside, in leadership, education, or research roles.
Diane Clements (Schwartz Laughlin) Jan 73
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Rob and Barb Harris Our condolences to Shirley’s family, thinking of you all at this sad time. We will miss our special friend, who was an amazing lady and brought us so much Joy! We loved our weekly dinners together at the Apple Tree, especially our conversations with Shirley who shared stories of her many travels, her nursing career, growing up in James Bay and as a teenager at her beloved Victoria High. We have wonderful memories we will treasure and will miss her Saturday night calls and face time just to chat. RIP “Sweet Shirley”
Loved and missed by
Rob and Barb
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Marcia Egan “Miss Anderson” was kind, caring and compassionate and was instrumental in my completing nursing school. I was in the class of January 1978 and the school of nursing was going through tremendous change. Shirley Anderson dealt with all the upheaval of the time with grace. She was a woman to be looked up to.
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Rob Politano and Flemming Nielsen We would like to offer our condolences to Shirley’s family and many friends. We had the honour of knowing Shirley over the last years and the pleasure of her company for dinner at the Aoole Tree restaurant. Shirley was a highly intelligent and respected person and always demonstrated kindness and compassion to those who knew her. She had great strength and resilience and was someone you could always rely on. Rob Politano and Flemming Nielsen
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Anne Boldt Dear family,
I have many memories of Miss Anderson ( Shirley).
I graduated in Jan ’72 when she was “Ciriculm Co-ordinator” what ever that meant? I don’t remember.
What I do remember what that she was calm, kind, fair and approachable.When I becoame involved in the RJHAlumni Association in the late 1990’s Shirley was still very involved and we sat in on meetings together.
Well, I had a REAL problem calling her Shirley and not MISS Andrews. After a couple of meeetings I told her about my issue. Her response to me was.” I know what you mean. I had trouble calling MISS Richmind, ‘Mary’ when I started working with her in on the RJH Staff.”
After that I felt very comfortable calling her’ Shirley’.Shirley and I also had the common bond of being grads of our beloved Vic High School.
What a wonderful mentor and role model she was!
Annie Boldt Jan’72
We were very saddened to hear of Shirley’s passing. She was a kind, lovely person who was easy to talk to and had such a calm way about her. Our family will deeply miss her.