Obituary for Shirley Marie Alma Lessard (Richer)
Shirley Lessard was born to Leo Richer and Bernadette Renaud on May 18, 1938 in the town of Tecumseh, Ontario. Shirley Richer married Paul Lessard (deceased) in 1955 She moved to Windsor with her husband and five children, including: son Randy Lessard and his wife Jean Lessard and grandson Paul Lessard; Paul Lessard and his daughter Terry-Lynn Williams (Lessard) with great grandson Cayan and daughter Jessica and Rob Devlin and great grandson Tucker; daughter Deborah Bearden with grandchildren Aubree Bearden and partner Seth Reaume and Bryson Bearden and fiancé Alexia Grant; and daughter Karen Alaga and husband Anton Alaga with grandchildren: Katayna Alaga and husband Mark Porto, Tona Alaga and Layo Alaga; and daughter Sharon Conlon and husband Dave Conlon with grandchildren Sabrina Michael and Luna Michael. Shirley came from a family of seven children in which she was the eldest including her brother Paul Richer and wife Jean Richer (deceased); brother Ron and Rachel Richer; brother Bob and Wendy Richer; sister Linda and Larry Anderson; brother Jerry and Lori Richer; and brother Gary and Candy Richer and many nieces and nephews, step families, and dearest friends we call family.
Shirley began her working career as the owner/operator of Owl Crafts in Windsor to later become a Real-estate agent in Windsor to then complete a degree in Journalism from St. Clair College in 1983. From there, she moved to Brampton to work as a journalist at the Brampton Daily Times. She was an active volunteer member of the Zonta Club of Brampton and Chaired the Board of Directors at her condominium corporation for many years. Shirley was a very organized, hardworking lady, who was as 'tough as nails' so with the closing of the newspaper, she was invited to be the property manager at a downtown Toronto Condominium for Minto. At the young age of 60, Shirley began to finish her certificate in condominium management which she completed at 65 years of age and went on to work for 16 more years in property management at the Minto buildings in Mississauga.
Shirley returned to Windsor in 2014 to retire in her garden and be closer to her daughter Deborah and childhood friends. She couldn’t totally stop working and she became the Treasurer of the Windsor area CARP. Shirley then moved to Waterloo in 2019 to be closer to her daughters. It was on July 2, 2020 at the Clair Hills Retirement Home that Shirley came to meet her maker. Shirley was not alone when she passed into Heaven and she received the sacrament of her Last Rights and gave herself to the Lord our Saviour the day before her passing. Shirley lived an accomplished and illustrious life filled with family and friends. She was well loved and will be missed.
Au revoir ma chère mère
Shirley began her working career as the owner/operator of Owl Crafts in Windsor to later become a Real-estate agent in Windsor to then complete a degree in Journalism from St. Clair College in 1983. From there, she moved to Brampton to work as a journalist at the Brampton Daily Times. She was an active volunteer member of the Zonta Club of Brampton and Chaired the Board of Directors at her condominium corporation for many years. Shirley was a very organized, hardworking lady, who was as 'tough as nails' so with the closing of the newspaper, she was invited to be the property manager at a downtown Toronto Condominium for Minto. At the young age of 60, Shirley began to finish her certificate in condominium management which she completed at 65 years of age and went on to work for 16 more years in property management at the Minto buildings in Mississauga.
Shirley returned to Windsor in 2014 to retire in her garden and be closer to her daughter Deborah and childhood friends. She couldn’t totally stop working and she became the Treasurer of the Windsor area CARP. Shirley then moved to Waterloo in 2019 to be closer to her daughters. It was on July 2, 2020 at the Clair Hills Retirement Home that Shirley came to meet her maker. Shirley was not alone when she passed into Heaven and she received the sacrament of her Last Rights and gave herself to the Lord our Saviour the day before her passing. Shirley lived an accomplished and illustrious life filled with family and friends. She was well loved and will be missed.
Au revoir ma chère mère