Shirley Tenzer passed away peacefully in her sleep at the age of 88, two weeks before her 89th Birthday, at Evansburg Pembina Village Lodge after struggling with dementia for the past few years.
She was born Shirley Verna McCracken in Calmar, Alberta on August 20,1932. Her parents were Christina and William McCracken. They lived on a rented farm near Weed Creek close to Thorsby. When they came, there was a lot of bush, so a lot of land was cleared and put into crops. Shirley, along with her sister and two brothers went to a country school named “Progress”.
In 1945 the family moved to the “Reno District”, South of Evansburg, where they bought the “Mahon” place, and started farming there. Shirley went to the Reno school.
In 1956 she married Frank Tenzer, and they lived in the same Reno district on a farm with Frank’s parents, George and Maria Tenzer. Each family had their own house and yard area on the same quarter of land. They milked cows and sold cream to the Evansburg Creamery. Later, they raised mostly Hereford beef cattle, with some crops and Hay as pasture. Being on the farm, they planted lots of trees, and Shirley always had a large vegetable garden and beautiful flowers to brighten up the yard.
Frank had spent some years working for the Alberta Government Department of Highways at Evansburg. When Frank’s health got worse, they moved into Evansburg and bought a lot and dwelling in 1990. Frank passed away, at the age of 66, due to a heart problem and Cancer. Shirley continued to live there on her own where she loved planting flowers and going to the Pembina Park, visiting with her children & granddaughter who often camped there. She moved into the Pioneer Haven Seniors Lodge in Evansburg in 2004. She enjoyed living there and made numerous friends which she played games with as well as cards, jigsaw puzzles and going to the live music at the Lodge. In 2017, Mom moved over to the Evansburg Sunshine Lodge and once again made some great friends. Then in 2019 moved into “continuing care” in Pembina Village.
Shirley is predeceased by her father William (1970), her brother Ivan (1988), her mother Christina (1991), husband Frank (1992), her brother Gary (1997) and her sister Hazel (2011). She believes she will see them again in the resurrection.
Shirley leaves behind her daughter Connie Norton and her husband Ross, granddaughter Kacie Norton & fiancé Adam Kirkpatrick, and her son Blaine and partner Brandon Paul. She also leaves behind her niece, Elaine & her husband Al and families and nephew William, as well as various cousins and their families.
With respect to Moms wishes there will not be a funeral service. Donations could be made to the “Good Samaritan Society” - Evansburg (Pembina Village)
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