Shirley Rogerson

In Loving Memory of SHIRLEY ROBERTA ROGERSON July 9, 1927 - August 31, 2024

We are sad to announce the passing of our wonderful mother, Shirley Rogerson, peacefully in her sleep on Saturday, August 31 at Sunrise Mississauga at the age of 97.

Shirley is predeceased by her loving husband Don Rogerson, parents Robert Masters and Minnie (nee Anderson), brothers Bill (Queenie) John (Jean), sisters Ruth, Grace (Bill), Helen (Ernie), Andy (Howard).

She will be sorely missed by her daughters, Donna (Ted), Lynn (Doug - deceased) and son Rob (Laura). She was a loving grandmother to grandchildren Julia (Nigel), Angelia, Emmanuel and step grandson Sean (Cheryl) and step great granddaughter Zoe.

She is survived by her brother Jim (Ruth) and her many nieces and nephews and their families.

She will be fondly remembered by her friends and her children’s friends and families.

Mom was born and grew up in Toronto where as a young woman she watched the ball games at Christie Pitts. She soon caught the notice of the centre fielder who was to become her loving husband, Don. Shirley and Don’s three children were born in Guelph and they lived there until they moved to Mississauga in 1965. Mom spent most of her married life in Mississauga with part of her retirement spent splitting the year between Alliston and Mesa, AZ until she and Don returned to Mississauga to be closer to family.

Mom worked in the insurance field and later volunteered at the Visual Arts Mississauga artists store at Springbank Visual Arts Centre. She was active in helping Don with organizing badminton tournaments for the Erindale Jr. Badminton Club, and supported our badminton oriented family. She was skip for her curling team and later in life loved to play shuffleboard when she moved to the Landmark. Mom always had some sort of craft going on, whether it was knitting, sewing, quilting or crafting. She always had time for her children and grandchildren and would listen with an open mind without judgement and gently offer her wisdom and advice. She was always supportive and encouraging of any of our endeavors. She had a great sense of humour and loved music. She continuously hummed as she went about her day.

Mom was often called the Energizer Bunny by her family as no matter what obstacle was put in her path she would overcome it and just keep going and going. She was also known as the Iron Lady by some of her children’s friends for her determination to meet all challenges head on. It was this core of strength (and her Irish stubbornness) that carried her through her last hospital stay to realize her final wish to make it out of the hospital and to her new home at Sunrise before allowing herself to rest.

The family wishes to thank all the caring PSW’s that looked after Mom, the staff at Credit River and Sunrise Retirement Residences who were both so wonderful with Mom and our family, and the doctors, nurses and PSW’s at Credit Valley Hospital who cared for her during her last months.

The family had a private memorial dinner in memory of Shirley in lieu of a funeral. If you wish to make a donation in memoriam, Shirley’s choices would be Parkinson’s Canada, Lion’s Club Foundation of Canada Dog Guides or CCF Foundation for PSP Awareness.