Obituary of Shirley Eva Manvell

MANVELL, SHIRLEY: At St. Joseph's Hospital on Wednesday, November 23, 2016, Shirley Eva Manvell of Beamsville and previously St. Anns. Beloved wife of the late William Manvell. Loving mother of Michael Manvell (Pamela Janes). She will be missed by her sisters Joyce Taylor (the late Arden) and Elsie Davidson (Ross) and her nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Predeceased by her sister Bette Brooks (the late Jim). Visitation at Merritt Funeral Home, 287 Station Street, Smithville on Saturday, December 3, beginning at 11:00 a.m. where the memorial service will follow at 1:00 p.m. If desired, memorial donations to the Heart & Stroke Foundation or the Good Shepherd Centre would be appreciated and can be made through the funeral home. Shirley was born and raised, along with her sisters Bette, Joyce, and Elsie, in St. Anns. She attended the one-room school that was just down the street from her house. On completing school, she went to work at Zellers in Hamilton and later at Hodgkins Furniture in Smithville. Shirley met Bill Manvell, a farm boy from the other end of town. In 1959, Shirley and Bill got married in the St. Anns United Church. Their only son, Michael, was born in 1961. In 1962, Bill and Shirley bought the corner store in St. Anns from Bill’s sister Gladys and her husband Harold. The store was a gathering place where people from the area would drop in for a few things and stay to chat. They ran the store until 1980. After the store closed, Shirley became head cashier at Knechtel Food Market in Smithville and later went to work at the Smithville LCBO. If you looked close to legal age in the 1980s and went to the liquor store, she may have asked to see your ID. Shirley and Bill built a cottage on Georgian Bay near Meaford in 1967. They chose the spot because it was two doors down from their friends George and Midge McIntosh who were also only a few doors down in St. Anns. Family and friends fondly remember trips to the cottage where there would be fishing, swimming, barbeques, and games of cards and crokinole. Games were usually played for serious money. Starting out with pennies, and later, with inflation, nickels. Shirley and Bill danced the night away for many years at St. Mary’s Hall in Grimsby, then as members of the Yellow Rockers of Smithville, a round dance and square dance group, where they met new friends, participated in competitions and conventions, and entertained residents at local seniors homes. Shirley and Bill met many people and made many friends over the years from operating the store, hosting dinner parties, inviting friends and family to the cottage, dancing, and wintering in Florida. Shirley had a matter-of-fact personality under which lay a heart of gold. She is remembered for her kindness, generosity, thoughtfulness, good humour, apple pie, Christmas squares, and for making sure everyone got a card on their birthday at the Edelheim Apartments in Beamsville. She was a great friend, a loving wife and sister, and an awesome mom. She is deeply missed.