Obituary of Marion Isabella SHAW

Marion Isabella Shaw

September 30, 1942 – August 9, 2024

Marion Isabella Shaw passed away peacefully at the Headwaters Health Care Center in Orangeville, Ontario on Friday, August 9, 2024, at the age of 81.

Marion was born on September 30, 1942, and was the oldest child of the late Elroy and Addie Cooper. She spent her first winter with her parents at an uncle's very cold farmhouse. She often said she would have frozen except for the warm cradle her dad made for her to sleep in. She grew up on a farm outside of Kincardine, the oldest of 6. 

In addition to her 5 siblings, she had 30+ first cousins who all grew up within 10 kms of her. She told me once they didn’t have any money but there was always someone to play with and they were very close. Those cousins remained close and have kept in touch all these 80 years.

Marion attended a one room schoolhouse for grades 1-8 and then went on to high school. She liked math and wanted to be a teacher when she grew up. She did a year-long teaching program and then started teaching - the first year in a poor, rural one room schoolhouse - 26 students grade 1 to 8. She continued to teach grade 1s and grade 2s in Sudbury and then in Orangeville and Grand Valley for several years. She met her husband Jim Shaw in Orangeville. She stopped teaching and started raising her son Bob and daughter Jennifer. 

She was involved with many volunteer activities throughout her life - at the Knox Presbyterian Church in Grand Valley, singing in the choir and teaching Sunday school, at the school helping kids learn to read and in the community. She was involved with the Meals on Wheels program from the time it started in Grand Valley in the early 1980s until she was eventually a recipient. She liked to garden and paint and enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren.

Marion is predeceased by her husband Jim Shaw of 53 years. She leaves behind her son Bob Shaw, daughter Jennifer Lhotak (Ondrej Lhotak), and 4 grandchildren Dakoda Shaw, Kai Lhotak, Radim Lhotak and Anna Lhotak.

She also leaves her sister's Audrey Burt (Ron Burt predeceased) and Gladys Colwell (Steven Colwell), her brother Ron Cooper and her sister-in-law’s Kathy Cooper (Lloyd Cooper predeceased) and Katrina Ferguson (Gordon Cooper predeceased).

She also leaves her sister-in-law’s Nancy Broad (Gibert Broad), Debbie Shaw (Ross Shaw predeceased) and Laura Shaw (Lindsay Shaw predeceased) and her brother-in-law Brian Shaw (Elaine Shaw). 

Predeceased by her brother's Lloyd Cooper and Gordon Cooper, her brother-in-law’s Ronnie Shaw, Ross Shaw, Lindsay Shaw and Ron Burt and her sister-in-law Karen Turner. She also leaves many nieces and nephews.

A celebration of Marion’s life will be held at the Grand Valley Knox Presbyterian Church (2 Water Street) on Thursday, August 22, 2024, at 11:00 am. The family will receive friends 1 hour prior to service time. If you are unable to be there in person for the servce, please see the link to attend virtually. 

In lieu of flowers, donations in Marion’s memory may be made to the Knox Presbyterian Church or the Grand Valley Meals on Wheels program by mailing a cheque payable to: Grand Valley Meals on Wheels - mail to: 87 Cooper Street, Grand Valley, ON L9W 5N5.

Online condolences can be made at www.imfunerals.com

In Memoriam Funeral Services Inc. has been given the honour to serve the Shaw Family.