Andrusiak, Evelyn 'Shirley'
Shirley Andrusiak, age 96, of The Blue Mountains, Ontario, passed away peacefully on February 21, 2026, at Brightshores Hospital in Meaford, Ontario.
Born on May 19, 1929, in Borden, Saskatchewan, to Vesta and Clifford Wainwright, Shirley grew up on the family farm, where she developed a strong work ethic and a creativity inspired by her Grandmother “Nanny” that would shape her life. She went on to attend the University of Saskatchewan, earning her Bachelor of Education degree. Shirley dedicated more than 30 years to teaching, primarily kindergarten at Langham Elementary School. She was widely regarded as one of Saskatchewan’s most innovative and devoted educators, inspiring generations of young students, before retiring at age 65.
Shirley lived life with style, imagination and joy. An accomplished painter of murals and small watercolours, she later established both an event décor business and a bed and breakfast, sharing her artistic eye and gift for hospitality with many. She was also a passionate ballroom dancer.
She will be remembered for her fun and generous spirit, her beautifully hosted dinner parties and her legendary pies. Above all, Shirley was a steadfast friend, a beloved big sister, a loving mother and grandmother, and a dedicated Christian and member of her faith community.
Shirley is survived by her children Sandra (Allan), Kathryn (David) and Sharon (Jeff); her grandchildren Calum (Bec) and Caitlin (Robert), Paloma (Greg) and Aidan (Gaelle), Darius (Monica) Hope, and Lydia (Josh); her great granddaughters, Cora, Allegra, Ava and Ariana; her siblings Stuart Wainwright (Elaine), Jean Kolback (Ed), Archie Wainwright (Peggy), and Margaret Muzika (Jerry). She was predeceased by her daughter Terri Saunders, her brother Bob Wainwright (Geraldine/Renata), her sister Kathleen Delparte (Don), and her brother Harold Wainwright who died in infancy.
Shirley’s warmth, her creativity, and her unwavering love for her family and friends will be deeply missed.
A memorial service will be held on Friday September 25, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. at the Saskatoon Funeral Home in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. A lunch will follow the service. The memorial will be livestreamed via the funeral home’s website.
As your expression of sympathy, and in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Borden Museum in Borden, Saskatchewan through the Ferguson Funeral Home, 48 Boucher St. E., Meaford, ON N4L 1B9 to whom arrangements have been entrusted.
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Donations: Borden Museum in Borden, SaskatchewanDonate securely through Ferguson Funeral Home
Tuesday, February 24, 2026
Aunt Shirley was such a wonderful person. She was always so busy with one activity or another. Whether it was painting murals, ballroom dancing, hosting special Robbie Burns nights and special cuisine nights, outings with friends, and even making marionettes for church. I’ll miss our long conversations and sharing stories. She always left me in awe. My deepest condolences to Sandra, Sharon, and Kathryn and your families. Much love to you.
Saturday, March 28, 2026
Thank you, Bev and Rob for these sweet memories.
Tuesday, March 24, 2026
“Mum”, the name I called my mother-in-law, was the sweetest of ladies who loved life and telling a good story. I first met her in London when my wife-to-be, her daughter Sharon and I were dating. I wanted her approval for our marriage, and over afternoon tea, I asked her what she thought about her daughter going to Central Asia to serve the Lord there (thinking we were going together).
Her response still rings in my heart when she said, “Oh, that sounds so exciting!” Of which, I thought, that is an approval of what could be. At our wedding, she joined in the preparations and was always supportive of the adventures that our family faced. She was the only relative who mentioned a desire to visit us on the other side of the world. Her spunk showed through as she was always open to the next adventure.
Later, when our kids were born, she was there to love them. I remember when our youngest was born in Saskatoon, she stopped her Classic Comfort Bed and Breakfast to accommodate us as her sole guest and treated us to her homemade Raspberry desserts. Later, our kids loved visiting her in Dalmeny, SK, or Sundown, Manitoba, to see “Nana.” Especially remembering the wrapped coins in the birthday cakes or the play areas she set up.
One of the unique things we shared together was her Chihuahua named Kuchaloo. When she brought him home as a pup, we were in Saskatoon, and she asked what she should name him. I looked at that adorable pup and said, “Kuchaloo,” which in Persian means “small and cute.”(کچالو). During that time, I recall our young son enjoying this good-natured dog as much as we did.
She loved to recall her time with her brother and remember her telling us of a life that no longer seems possible…”Robert and I spent much of our childhood outdoors, often riding horses bareback because we couldn’t afford saddles, gripping the bridle and mane as we raced across the fields, even when we weren’t supposed to—once ending in a fall when the horse kicked me off. We hunted for food during the years of depression… hunting prairie chickens, rabbits, and gophers; I remember snowshoeing into the field for my first rabbit, hesitating until Bob urged me to shoot, after which we brought it home for stew, which my mom would make from what we caught. We even earned a few cents by collecting gopher tails and crow eggs or shooting crows to protect the crops. Our days were full of risk and adventure, from climbing trees once and taking a bad fall to skating in late autumn on dangerously thin ice, racing across the surface to stay ahead of it cracking beneath us.” Her adventurous spirit never left her…
She always had a story to tell about her ventures in 1947 as a young teacher assigned to Fielding, SK, but her father forced her to change, so she ended up in Lintlaw, SK. She would tell the story of being put up in the honeymoon suite or overlooked on the bus since the local supervisor considered her too young to be the teacher, which always amused her.
Not aware of her artistic abilities, I had to pick her up one evening from the Dalmeny Arena, where she was working on one of her backdrops for a local mission conference. I found her busily working on the final touches to this massive backdrop she had rigged up near a wall. A beautiful piece of artwork, as well as her ability in tradeworking like a slinger to pull up the backdrop and bring it down for transfer. I recall her explaining to me how she maneuvered the backdrop so she could transport it.
As a strong believer, she shared with us that, back in 1988, she became a believer while living at Costigan Crescent in Saskatoon. She started reading the Bible because she was discontent with her life and some of the decisions she had made. Her daughter, Sharon, became a believer near that time, so they shared much together about these things. Yet, Mum also heard the gospel when she was younger from Pastor Don Lamont. She mentioned that Rev. Glenn Teal, from Lakeview Free Methodist Church, helped her come to know the Lord and was baptized there. (He pastored there from 1983 to 1995).
In her later years at Errinrung in Thornbury, Ontario, we loved taking her out for soup at the Ravenna Country Store for their homemade soup and driving through the apple orchards in the area. She was always so thankful for every little thing we did with her.
We know that this passing is not the end for Mum, but the beginning of eternal life. She is deeply missed, but she isn’t alone, for we know she is now at home with the Lord. For her, this isn’t a separation but a joyful reunion with Jesus, her Savior.
Mum, we love you and are thankful for every moment we had together.
Saturday, April 4, 2026
Oh I loved your mom! She was charming, hilarious, entertaining, elegant and inspiring! I’m sorry she’s gone, and I’m sorry for the loss you all feel. I’m glad we’ll all be able to see her again.
Wednesday, April 8, 2026
Sharon,
I am praying for you in the home going of your precious mother. I enjoyed reading the tribute from Jeff. She sounds like she lived life to the fullest and with great purpose. What a gift that she supported you and your family in the work God has given you. It was a sacrifice of love to let you go. What a blessed hope that one day soon we will all be united with Jesus and have the joy of spending eternity together with loved ones and Jesus.
May God pour His comfort into the hearts of all your family and know that we will continue to pray for you.
Love & Prayers, Robin Brooks