Shirley Gowdy Obituary
It is with deep sorrow and much love that we mourn the loss of (Doris) Shirley Gowdy (nee Springer) of Kingston, Ontario, who passed away peacefully at the Kingston General Hospital ICU, with close family members by her side, on March 14th, 2025 at 17:56, at the age of 83 years, a month before her 84th birthday. Shirley is now reunited with her late husband George Whitley Gowdy, and her elder sister Maida Pearson (Springer). She was a wonderful loving mother to her son John George Gowdy of Bangkok, Thailand, and to her daughter Susan Elizabeth Critoph of Pickering, Ontario, who will both miss her dearly. She was a real mentor, supporter, and a guiding light for both of us throughout our lives. Shirley cherished her three grandchildren: Benjamin, Jeremy and Jessica, and was known as Nana (Ben's first words). Shirley is survived by her big brother, John (Marilyn) Springer, and by her beloved younger sister, Lynda (Bernie) MacMillan. She will also be missed by her her niece Rachael Derkatz (Mac Millan), and by nephews Todd and David Springer. On the Gowdy side of the family, Shirley will be remembered by brother-in-law David Gowdy, sister-in-law Phoebe Gowdy (Rayner), and by their children David William, Andrew, Patrick, and Peter. Cousins Jimmy Nesbitt and Barbara McGuiness (Nesbitt) of Vancouver and their families will also be remembering her. Shirley's longtime friends Gail Johnson (Grandemaison), Fran and Henry Edwards, Jean Lavell, and Morna Rupert (MacCallum) will all dearly miss Shirley. Shirley will also be missed by friends and acquaintances at the many churches she attended over the years, by her international acquaintances, by her mission work friends at Missionary Ventures and MATE, by her bible study groups, and the Red Hatters, as well as by friends and neighbours at Glen Cairn Terrace, 675 Davis Drive, 120 Barrett Court, Lower Beverley Lake, and most recently by those she knew at the Kingsbridge Retirement Community. Shirley was born in Buckingham, Québec. She studied for one year at Carleton University in Ottawa before doing her Nurses Training at the Montreal General Hospital from 1960-63. During that time she worked one summer at Moose Factory in Northern Ontario at a hospital caring for indigenous tuberculosis patients. Shirley settled with husband George in Kingston in 1966. She was a devoted Nurse at the Ongwanada Hospital for children with severe developmental disabilities, followed by a long career of more than 30 years at KPH - Kingston Psychiatric Hospital, as a Nurse, Ward Supervisor, and Night Coordinator for the whole hospital. In her free time Shirley enjoyed many years of travel with her late husband George, and with her children John and Susan. She loved learning languages like German, Spanish, and French. Shirley also loved nature, spending April to October yearly at the cottage: swimming in the lake, taking nature walks, gardening, visiting with friends, attending church, and enjoying the local wildlife including hummingbirds, bluejays and loons at Lower Beverley Lake. She knew the name of every flower - tree - plant - that could be found in our cottage area. Religion played a central role in Shirley's life, and although Anglican by upbringing, she supported a diverse range of churches from Presbyterian to Baptist in both the Kingston and the cottage area: Delta, Lyndhurst, Elgin, Seeley's Bay, and more. After retiring from KPH in 1999, Shirley lovingly cared for George through four years of cancer. After George's passing Shirley continued to travel, but also became very active in Missionary work around the world. During the past 23 years she has shared her medical and pastoral skills by supporting people in 13 countries, with more than 24 missions under her belt: Cuba (5) 🇨🇺 , Nepal🇳🇵, Guyana 🇬🇾 (4), India 🇮🇳, the Philippines 🇵🇭, St. Vincent, Haiti 🇭🇹, Swaziland (2) 🇸🇿, Zambia 🇿🇲, Thailand (3) 🇹🇭 , Kenya 🇰🇪, Bolivia (2) 🇧🇴, and Peru 🇵🇪. Shirley also supported several Christian Bible schools and a local summer camp, sang in many Church Choirs, and was involved in multiple Bible study sessions. At her condos in Kingston she was a daily swimmer and walker, and participated in the weekly coffee mornings, exercise sessions, board game gatherings, happy hours, and festive group gatherings and activities. This involvement in activities continued when she moved to Kingsbridge Retirement Community in Kingston in February 2024. Shirley always found time for those in need - visiting people who were grieving or lonely or depressed or just needed a friend. She truly had a giving heart of gold - and seldom complained about her own ailments - but instead kept living life to the fullest right up until the day she died. A Celebration of Life Prayer Service will be held for Shirley Gowdy (nee Springer) at 1pm on Saturday May 3rd, at St. Thomas' Anglican Church, 130 Lakeview Avenue, Kingston - Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl. This will be followed by a short reception at the church at 2pm. At 3pm there will be a procession by car from the Cataraqui Cemetery Headquarters at 927 Purdy's Mill Road in Kingston - Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl , to the Gowdy tombstone, where a Burial Service will be held. In lieu of flowers, Memorial Donations may be made in Shirley Gowdy's name to the OBAD (Organization for Bipolar Affective Disorders), or to the Canadian Breast Cancer Society.
The family wishes to extend special thanks to the staff at the ICU at Kingston General Hospital. Your caring and support for our Mom / Mumma will always be remembered.
Condolences from family and friends.
