January 6, 1934 - April 16, 2024
In Loving Memory ~
It is with great sadness we announce the passing of our mother and grandmother Jean.
She was a feisty, strong independent girl , turned into even a feistier, stronger more independent woman and remained that way until the end.
Jean was born on January 6 1934 in Innisfail Alberta to George and Ruby Carroll. She was the eldest of three children. The family moved to Tcheskinut Lake in 1938 and lived on the chicken farm of her Aunt and Uncle Roy and Ruth Lord. Her dad George was a bit of a gypsy so the family never stayed in one place for too long.
Jean's childhood was spent with many moves which eventually had the family moving back to Burns Lake when she was a teenager. It was there that she met and fell in love with Charles (Chuck) Shields and the two were married on June 2 1951. They had various homes in the Burns Lake area and this is where they started to raise their 6 children. The family settled at Tintagel in the home that Chuck built for them.
On December 7 1974 tragedy struck the family as their youngest daughter Juliet was hit by a car and passed away. It was after this that Jean decided to go back to school and complete her grade 12 with science courses to enrol in nursing.
The home in Tintagel was sold, a trailer was bought and then it was off to Prince George for nursing school. After graduation Jean was hired as an LPN at the Burns Lake and District Hospital and once again they settled in Burns Lake.
On May 19 1979 another child was lost, son Keith was killed in a car accident. It was a sad time, after this Chuck and Jean bought property in Tintagel and moved the trailer on to it. They remained there until 1985 at which time they moved to Penticton B.C. It was there that Jean continued to work as a nurse until her retirement in 1999. Jean loved the Penticton area and the sunshine. She took up all kinds of activities from clog dancing , golfing, skiing to painting and really enjoyed road trips with her best friends. During this time Chuck and Jean loved to camp and spent their time travelling to all the family homes for many, many visits!
Sadly Chuck was diagnosed with Alzheimer's and was in a nursing home when he passed away on April 28 2013. In July of 2015 Jean moved back Burns Lake because she said "this is home to me!" Here she lived happily in Heritage Manor her "little nest "as she called it for 9 years.
On April 1 2024 Jean was moved into Tweedsmuir House as it became apparent that she needed more assistance. Sadly she was only there for 6 days when she fell and suffered a severe break. Jean passed away peacefully on April 16 2024.
Jean was predeceased by her parents George and Ruby Carroll, daughter Juliet (age 8) 1974, son Keith (age 20) 1979, husband Charles 2013, sister Sadie and brother Bob.
She is survived by her children Connie Morris(Ron), Betty Anne Armstrong, Karl(Janelle) Shields, John(Roxy)Shields, 10 grandchildren, 19 great grandchildren and 1 great-great grandchild.
No service will be held as per her request.
LIFE
From the time we are born to the time we last see the world
We will see many things we don't understand.
A distant star, the space in between birth and death~
We will learn to love
We will learn to cry,
how to cry,
Why a flower grows then dies~
What we don't understand
we will never,
Because we can't believe
What we can't experience~
In the short space in which we live
We will learn to lust for life,
and laugh when we should cry~
Happiness will be
being able to say
I did what I wanted without
causing pain.
Written by Keith Shields
(17 years old)