Obituary of Shirley Dukes

February 21, 1933 - Hamilton, Ontario

September 14, 2024 - Calgary, Alberta

Shirley Ruth Dukes was born February 21, 1933, in Hamilton, ON, to Harry and Flora Hargreaves, a self-declared spoiled younger sister to Roy and Eleanor.

She started her working career with CIBC in Brantford and after her brief marriage ended, transferred to Calgary to work in the main branch. There she met and became close with several of her coworkers, including her dear friend Betty Chan.

Early retirement allowed her more travel time, with multiple trips to Australia and the UK to visit members of her extended family. A few fun jobs, including one that required eating chocolates so she could describe them to the customers, made it so she could make those trips frequently. She also found a group of like-minded women in the Red Hat Society and cherished the time she spent with them. Shirley loved to dress in theme with the season and always had great Christmas shirts, sweaters, pins, and earrings found in her travels.

Once air travel became too difficult, she shifted her travel focus to bus trips all over Western Canada and the US, where she found a whole new group of fun friends to play with, often in casinos. She became well known for her “British” dry sense of humour inherited from her father. Shirley was a strong, determined, and fiercely independent woman who remained very involved with both her close and extended family.

Shirley passed away in Calgary at the age of 91 years on Saturday, September 14, 2024. She was predeceased by her parents, Harry and Flora; her brother Roy, her sister-in-law Ena, her sister Eleanor Nixon of Nanton, AB, and her niece Cynthia Webber. She leaves behind nieces, Elizabeth Braid (Maurice Mandale) of Truro, NS, and Susan Bardahl (Jack) of Medicine Hat; and two nephews, Paul Nixon and Dwight Nixon (Luanne) both of Calgary. She also leaves seven great-nieces and nephews, and their spouses, and ten great-great-nieces and nephews, and extended family members in the UK and Australia, all of whom will miss her great hugs and giggles.

Shirley’s final, most challenging journey of all, Alzheimer’s, was made as comfortable as possible by the attentive, professional, and compassionate care provided to Shirley and all of us at the Rockyview General Hospital and the Chinook Care Centre, where she enjoyed her own space with her TV, armchair and puzzles. Her family is grateful for these special people.

Condolences, memories, and photos may be shared and viewed with Shirley’s family here.

In living memory of Shirley Dukes, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McInnis & Holloway Funeral Homes, Park Memorial, 5008 Elbow Drive SW, Calgary, AB T2S 2L5, Telephone: 403-243-8200.