Shirley Kearn was a loyal and dedicated Ringette Fan.
She watched her two grand daughters grow-up in the sport of Ringette, and she saw how much joy and character-building the sport offered to them as players and as young women.
Shirley travelled to Halifax in 2005 to see one of her granddaughters compete for Ontario in the Tween AA Eastern Canadian Championships. The overtime period in the gold medal game proved too exciting and nerve wracking and she had to leave the ice area. The smile on her granddaughter’s face warmed Shirley’s heart as just got the news about the game outcome.
Shirley had a long history of breast cancer dating back to 1997. She had numerous surgeries, and a multitude of treatments, too many to list on this website. Through it all, she never complained, maintained her honest sense of humour, followed the advice of medical practioners, continued to work in the family business, and supported her 11 grandchildren and great grandchildren.
By late 2007, she could not walk on her own. Dependent on a wheel-chair, she made sure that she would not miss a Ringette game, and it was arranged to have her wheelchair placed near the glass, by the ice surface so that she could see the action.
Weeks before she passed away in February, 2008 at the age of 69, and unable to leave the hospital, she would wait with eager anticipation of the verbal report of the Ringette game where her two granddaughters were playing on the same team.
One year later, Shirley’s husband Phil Kearn was diagnosed with advancing postate cancer, and he found himself at the same hospital, and on the same floor that Shirley had occupied. Phil Kearn passed away in April 2009.
This event was inspired by the life and soul of Shirley Kearn, and her husband Phil Kearn who both died of cancer, living their final months, under the care of the Palliative Care Unit of the Toronto East General Hospital.
Kaitlyn and Kelsey Youldon, granddaughters of the late Shirley and Phil Kearn, will be coaching two of the five teams that will participate in this years Charity Cup event.
Shirley Kearn, Nov 12 2007 (Kelsey and Kaitlyn Youldon)
We know that Palliative Care has played a role in many people’s lives, similar to our story above. Please join us this year as we do what we can to support these fine people who offer this care at such a difficult time in a person’s life.
