Shirley Mary Jay

It is with deep love and sadness that we announce the passing of Shirley Mary Jay on August 13, 2026, at Matthews House Hospice in Alliston, Ontario.

Born on April 26, 1933, in Tracadie, Prince Edward Island, Shirley was the daughter of the late Edith and Patrick Mullen. She grew up in a close-knit family where faith, hard work and, above all, family were at the heart of everyday life. Shirley was the eldest of four daughters. When her father died young, she went to work to help support her sisters, carrying the family forward while her mother trained as a teacher. That responsibility shaped her, and she carried it the rest of her life.

She became a teacher and devoted her life to education and to helping others. She began her teaching career in Prince Edward Island and continued in Deep River, Ontario, where she touched the lives of many students through her kindness, patience and dedication.

For many years, Shirley was a faithful and active member of the Catholic Women’s League at Our Lady of Good Counsel Roman Catholic Church in Deep River. She generously gave her time and talents to her church and community, organizing events, volunteering wherever she was needed, always willing to lend a helping hand. She was a woman of deep and constant faith. She never missed church. Through the Catholic Women’s League and the prayer line she kept with her friends, she sat with the sick and stood with families.

She was the rock of her own family, steady through every hardship, and she met all of it with her faith and grace. She wrote to the people she loved every week, never forgot a birthday or important occasion. She was known for sending handwritten cards and letters to her children, godchildren, nieces and nephews, some as far away as Australia, and she filled her cards with clippings, recipes and jokes so each one arrived with something personal to hold. Every Christmas, she sent a letter filled with recipes, little stories, prayers, and clippings, from her heart to every one of us. No one was forgotten. Anyone who met her loved her.

Shirley married Paul Jay on July 27, 1957, and was his wife for the rest of her life. She was his world, and he was hers. Shirley loved life and had a way of making everyone feel welcome and at home. Her home was often filled with family and friends, and she took great pleasure in entertaining.

Shirley will be lovingly remembered by her children, Margo (Darryl MacArthur) and Terry (Kim Tesolin); her grandchildren, Connor Jay, Mackenzie Jay and Jayden MacArthur; and her step-grandchildren, Sophie Tesolin and Raven Elliot.

She is survived by her sister, Patsy (George), and her many nieces and nephews, their families and her brother-in-law Kimble Jay. Shirley was predeceased by her beloved husband, Paul Jay; her sisters, Millie (John) and Phyllis (Rogers).

Shirley’s warmth, thoughtfulness and unwavering love for her family and friends will remain in the hearts of all who were fortunate enough to know her.

We have many people to thank, but for this moment, we would like to thank the 2nd Floor Nursing and PSW staff at Holland Gardens, the Bradford Paramedics and Ambulance Teams, the emergency personnel, specialists, and nurses at Southlake Regional Health Centre, and the care team at Matthew’s House Hospice. These people are angels on earth, and they were so good to Mom and to our family.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made on behalf of Shirley Jay to the Deep River and District Hospital Foundation at www.drdhfoundation.com/give.

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Saturday, October 3, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at Our Lady of Good Counsel Roman Catholic Church, Deep River, Ontario.

A Celebration of Life will follow for Paul and Shirley Jay from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. at Our Lady of Good Counsel Hall, hosted by the Catholic Women’s League.

For those unable to attend in person, the Funeral Mass will be livestreamed. Join the Zoom Meeting:

Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81177995363?pwd=CwWl3kXzQDEzo59oQBLHbvJyIyCSOl.1

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