With broken hearts, we announce the passing of our beloved wife and mother Shirley Dianne Schroeder on October 20, 2025. She was at home surrounded by her loving husband and two children Gary and Carolyn.

Shirley leaves to cherish her memory her loving husband and best friend of 51 years Hugh and her two wonderful children, Gary (Tanya) and Carolyn. Shirley is survived by her brothers Jerry (Penny) of Lethbridge, Dennis (Jane) of Vulcan and Larry of Lethbridge. Shirley was predeceased by her parents Josephine and Frank Machacek and her dear sister Linda Ann Machacek who passed in 1972. Shirley will also be missed by numerous in-laws, aunts and uncles, nieces and nephews and treasured friends.

Shirley was born on June 19, 1950 in Lethbridge and as a young girl she was raised on a farm called the Cameron near Turin, Alberta. In 1964, the Machacek family moved to a memorable farm in Barons where they lived for about 16 years. As a school aged girl, Shirley was a leader in 4-H, a club that builds a strong sense of community by empowering youth with skills and confidence that lasted her a lifetime. Later, she attended high school at Lethbridge Collegiate Institute and post graduation Shirley worked at the Royal Bank of Canada and Canada Post.

Shirley’s love of children led her to complete a Bachelor of Education Degree at the University of Lethbridge. Her teaching career began in Castor, Alberta under the separate school board. Shirley then moved to Canmore in Alberta’s Rocky Mountains known for rugged summits and turquoise blue lakes where she taught grade two. The following spring, Shirley met and fell in love with her husband Hugh at the Alberta Teachers Convention hosted in Edmonton. Shirley and Hugh married July 6th, 1974 and moved to Edmonton where they began a lifelong journey of learning, growing and teaching each other new things with a united heart. Later, Shirley took time away from her teaching career to raise two children, Gary and Carolyn. As a mother, she showed her children the importance of perseverance, strength, and kindness through her actions every single day. Her wisdom wasn’t just in the words she spoke; it was in how she lived.

She returned to teaching elementary students with Edmonton Public Schools for 25 years before retiring in 2005. Given education begins with literacy, the Writing Road to Reading program enabled Shirley to teach numerous students to become excellent writers and communicators as grade two pupils were functioning at a grade six level and beyond. Shirley was hard working and responsible with perfectionistic tendencies yet patient, sympathetic and sensitive.

Friends and family that visited her home over the years enjoyed five course gourmet meals inspired by culinary chefs around the world. Reflecting back on all of her travels, Prague of the Czech Republic was not only part of her heritage but a notably favoured city given the Old World charm. As a teacher, she was an avid reader and her curated home library reflects a variety of interests, yet the Bible always remained the most significant book in this collection. For Shirley, the scripture stood as an unparalleled source of wisdom for those who seek to live according to God’s will. No matter where she was living, she often participated in Bible study groups and met many wonderful friends along the way.

Shirley enjoyed numerous activities of leisure including gardening flowers and vegetables, exercise classes, curling, dance, playing cards and board games – good luck was needed for those who sat across from her in a game of Scrabble – she was infamous for her quadruple word scores. No matter where she was living, it was seldom that Shirley was not busy.

Shirley was one of those rare people that had a great impact on everyone’s whose life she touched. Her beautiful smile put everyone in the room at ease and she always made an effort to include everyone when planning events. Shirley remained positive throughout her life and she often said “don’t sweat the small stuff” or “haste makes waste”. Shirley will be remembered for her kindness, genuine concern for others and her unwavering faith.

The family of Shirley Schroeder wishes to express our sincere thanks for all of the support and other expressions of love during our time of bereavement.

Special thanks to Dr. Gardner, Dr. Van Slyke and all of the doctors, nurses and caregivers we met along the way. We appreciated the kindness and compassion all of the health care workers at Kelowna General Hospital and BC Cancer Care provided to our beloved wife and mother.

A Celebration of Life, will be held on TUESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2025, at 1:00 PM (PDT), at SPRINGFIELD FUNERAL HOME, 2020 Springfield Road, Kelowna, BC. A reception will be held following the service.

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