Shirley Bergen, of Vulcan, beloved wife of Harvey, passed away at Vulcan Extendicare on January 28, 2024 at the age of 83 years.
Shirley Patricia Halford – a blue eyed (short sighted without her glasses) slip of a girl came through the door of the kitchen at a party Harvey attended in May of 1963. He was immediately captivated by the blue eyes and the smile. 5 ½ months later, they were man and wife.
Shirley was a war time evacuee – at least her Mother was evacuated from London during the war to Wales. After moving back to London, she was one of the Londoners who, when the air raid siren went, moved under the kitchen table with mattresses on top. She came to Powell River via Rotterdam, Baltimore then Montreal and train to Vancouver then ferry to Powell River in 1947 and to hear her tell it, she was one of the few people able to eat in the galley of the ship while crossing the Atlantic
Their first two years of marriage were rather tumultuous – Harvey flew for Powell River Airways until February of 1964 then Shirley became his radio operator in Gold River on Vancouver Island west coast. Her bubbly personality and ‘way with words’ even came over the radio and she was soon known at most of the logging camps up and down the coast. Living in a trailer in Gold River was not the lap of luxury. However she made the best of it.
When Harvey joined Air Canada, Shirley was the glue that held the family together. She dealt with the myriad day to day decisions of raising four children while Harvey did his thing. No drivers licence and only one car anyway, and four children under 6 – pushing a baby carriage through the snow to the grocery store and back in Orangeville Ontario. An indomitable spirit.
Shirley was not only the person who looked after the family for the most part – she also at one time, sold real estate, managed a women’s wear store, had her own upholstery shop, worked in a paint store and was a Lieutenant in the Shelburne Air Cadets. She was also a trained – and excellent – singer. Her forte was people. She was never happier than when she was dealing with people.
After moving to Southern Alberta, Shirley carried the passion she had developed in Ladner, BC for gardening into Communities in Bloom in Vulcan complete with a weekly column on gardening in the local paper. Their country property was also the beneficiary of her talent.
Through 60 years of marriage, Shirley was Harvey’s partner, helper, inspiration and as mentioned, the glue that formed the family. Harvey, along with children, Patrick, Cheryl, Janice and Glen, grandchildren – Spencer, Maxwell, Chelsea, Jack, Madeleine, Sophia, Conner and Tom as well as their various partners all wish her well.
Shirley, you will be missed.
There will not be a formal service at this time.
Any tributes in Shirley’s memory can be made to the Alzheimer Society of Alberta & NWT, #306, 10430 – 61 Avenue, Edmonton, Alberta, T6H 2J3 or through www.alzheimer.ca.
Arrangements in care of Vulcan Funeral Home. Telephone 1-403-485-2633. E-mail condolences through www.vulcanfuneralhome.ca.
Our sincerest condolences to you and your family Harvey. Shirley’s optimistic outlook and lovely smile will be so missed. I really enjoyed our book club times together. She was so fun and generous with her time and conversation.
Shirley had that megawatt smile and gentle manner. Yet, you could sense the strength behind the smile. She just made things better by being in the room.
Dear Harvey and families, our heartfelt condolences on the passing of Shirley. She was a lovely lady who became an integral part of the communities that she helped beautify not just by her presence, but by her gifts of giving and caring!! We know she will be missed by all that she helped enrich their lives and friendship.