DORE, SHIRLEY MABEL - Shirley Mabel (Hagerman) Dore died as she lived, gracefully, despite two years of grueling cancer, at the Chalmers Hospital in Fredericton, on October 4, 2013. Born on September 7, 1943, Shirley was the youngest of three daughters of the late Irvine and Mabel (Pond) Hagerman, and lived in the Bear Island area until she and her mother moved to Fredericton after her father’s death. A graduate of Southampton High School and New Brunswick Teacher’s College, Shirley taught grade 1 at Taymouth for three years before marrying Karl (Sonny to her), her sweetheart since 15. They spent their first year in New Haven, Connecticut, where she worked as a volunteer in the Head Start Program for needy children. When they returned to Fredericton, she resumed teaching grade 1 at Oromocto for the next five years. Her first child was born in 1973, at the threshold of the paradigm shift from work-at-home to outside-career Moms. Shirley opted to give up her teaching career and work at home. She never regretted her decision, because it made such a wonderful life for Sonny and her three children, Natalie, Mitchell, and Katherine. Her family was her life, and she filled her home with love, warmth, and laughter. She was long a familiar sight walking her children up, down, and across the hill, for school, church, music, swimming, skating, ballet, and more. For most of their 46 year marriage it was rare when Sonny did not come home for lunch and, after Natalie and Katherine moved away, rarer still when Shirley did not talk with each of them by phone each day; often twice or more. As her beloved grandchildren came along, much of the conversation was taken up with their news. No detail was too small.
Shirley loved all children. She taught Sunday School at Brunswick Street Baptist Church, and served in the Church Nursery for many years. She was a devoted daughter, and particularly supportive throughout the last quarter century of her mother's life. Wonderfully kind and generous, Shirley was a Sweetie. A Sweetie with true grit. Shirley is survived by her husband, Sonny (Karl Dore); her children, Natalie Underhill (Scott) of Halifax, Mitchell Dore of Fredericton, and Katherine Jardine (Tim) of Halifax; her grandchildren, Julia and Addison Underhill, and Ryan, Halle and Meghan Jardine; her sisters, Phyllis Mooers and Ethel Saunders (Floyd); several nieces and nephews; her father-in-law, Karl Dore (Sr); and her sisters-in-law, Mary Phillips (Darrell) and Charlotte Sheppard. The family is so grateful, as was Shirley, for her excellent medical care in Halifax, Saint John and Fredericton, and for the tremendous support and encouragement of family and friends. Especially extraordinary support came from our beloved family doctor, Kalyani Srinivasan; Ethel and Floyd; Brenda Jardine and Sharron Underhill, who time and again kept the home fires burning while Natalie and Katherine shuttled back and forth from Halifax; and friends, Andrea Abriel, Pat Feltmate, Noreen Stairs, Patricia Tingley, and Patty Trail. For anyone wishing to do something in Shirley's memory, the family suggests a donation to the Chalmers Hospital Foundation, P.O. Box 9000 Fredericton NB E3B 5N5, with a designation for the Oncology Unit, in support of the excellent care provided by their doctors, nurses, pharmacists, support staff, and volunteers.
Visitation will be held at McAdam's Funeral Home, 160 York St., on Sunday, October 6th, 2013 from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 pm. A memorial service will be held at 2 pm on Monday, October 7th from Brunswick Street Baptist Church. Online condolences can be made at www.mcadamsfh.com, 458-9170.