“A strong woman is one who feels deeply and loves fiercely. Her tears flow as abundantly as her laughter. A strong woman is both soft and powerful, she is both practical and spiritual. A strong woman in her essence is a gift to the world” – Ritu Ghatourey

Carol Shirley was welcomed into the world by parents Leslie and Shirley (Wilson) Abell on December 7, 1943, at the Walkerton Hospital. Carol joined her older sister Joan, and the arrivals of Jill and Les made the family complete. The Abell family lived at the Dunkeld corner, just behind the Dunkeld Hotel. Carol’s health issues began when she was only three, being diagnosed with asthma. This prevented her from being able to go into the barn with the rest of her family and other childhood activities but during this time, Carol learned to play the piano by ear. Every Sunday, the whole family would pile into the car and go for a drive, a lot of times ending at the beach. Carol’s love for pie began when she was little. She would often be caught in the kitchen as a youngster in the middle of the night with a fork in hand eating leftover pie, and it didn’t matter what kind either! While growing up, the family shared their house with their Uncle Art and Aunt Margaret, and their children for eight years. This created a busy household. Even though each family had their own space, they would still meet outside of their rooms to use the register to warm up their feet before bed every night. The children attended S.S.#1 Dunkeld, and then Carol continued to Walkerton District Secondary School, graduating from grade 12. Following high school, Carol began working for Bogden & Gross in the office as a secretary, which she truly enjoyed.

Carol enjoyed spending time with friends. One night Carol went to a friend’s wedding reception. Carol came with a date, however, she caught the eye of a young man, William “Bill” Prues. Bill approached the young gentleman a few weeks later and offered a case of beer in exchange for a date with Carol. The young gentleman accepted Bill’s offer, and the rest is history! They dated for a few years before getting married on July 10, 1965, in the Cargill United Church. Once married, they moved to the 10th of Brant, where they raised their family for 25 years. They then moved to the other side of the river still on the 10^th of Brant and built their dream home which they enjoyed for 35 years.  A year after getting married, they welcomed their son Bill Jr. in 1966. Only thirteen months later, in 1967, Carol was expecting again. The nurse came out and congratulated Bill and said he had a little girl. Thirty minutes later she came back out and said congratulations Bill, you have another little girl. They had no idea they were having twins! They welcomed Wendy and Wyonna into the family. In 1969, Carol wasn’t feeling well, and soon found out she was expecting yet again! Sherry arrived to complete the family. To say that Carol had her hands full with four little ones within three years was an understatement! About 5 years later Bill started working away during the week. Carol took on the task of taking care of four young children while maintaining the chores that needed to be completed on the farm until Bill got home on the weekend. She was a busy yet determined hardworking woman. She made sure the kids got to the beach that she loved as a youngster. The 10^th of Brant swimming hole was a favourite of her kids. On occasion, Carol would pack up the kids up and they would rent a cottage near where Bill was working and spend the week together.

When the children were teenagers, Carol went back into the workforce, having many part time jobs including Canada Packers, the Paisley Inn, The Dunkeld Hotel, People’s Department Store, Bentinck Packers and the Hanover Post. Carol was a member of the Malcolm Women’s Institute and grew many friendships. She was a member of Cargill/Pinkerton/Paisley United Church, and later Walkerton United Church. Carol canvassed for the Heart & Stroke Foundation every year. Carol had a green thumb and was an avid gardener in her flower beds and they always looked beautiful. Carol had a larger vegetable garden and would grow her own vegetables and worked for hours canning and preserving for her family. Carol quickly learned that sewing and embroidery were not a specialty of hers when she sewed her embroidering to her pants! She was a wonderful cook. She liked cooking turkey supper and liver, onions with mushrooms. Carol enjoyed attending dances and she was a very good dancer. It was a joy to watch Bill and Carol on the dance floor. She very much looked forward to the late lunch. Carol and her son-in-laws would keep an eye on the clock to see when 11pm would hit, which meant the food was coming out. When the children would attend a dance or stag and doe, she would call them the next day to ask if it was a good turn out and what was served for lunch.

Carol enjoyed watching All in the Family, the Billy Graham Special, Dallas, Tommy Hunter, Hee Haw, Wheel of Fortune, Family Feud. And most recently Big Bang Theory, she would always say, “that Sheldon is so funny”. She liked listening to country music, especially Charlie Pride. Carol took a lot of pride in her home, keeping it very clean and tidy. Carol spent a lot of her time on the phone, talking to her sister Joan. If the children were loud in the background, she would stomp her feet so they would quiet down while she finished her conversation. Carol and Joan were best friends, and took trips together, including Alaska, (her favourite trip, which also included her sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Caroline and Bruce Sieling),  Las Vegas, and a shopping trip to Frankenmuth, with Bill sitting in the truck waiting for them and carrying their bags around. Carol also enjoyed many day trips with her daughters and daughter-in-law.

When her grandchildren were born, Carol’s love for family grew even more. She made sure to make every moment with each of them special by doing day trips one on one with each of them, sometimes doing trips with just the grandsons, and some with the granddaughters. She would often take them to the Bervie Zoo, Chantry Island, mini golf and spoiling her granddaughters on shopping trips. Carol was sweet, kind, helpful and always a lady. Her smile could brighten up a whole room. She took pride in always looking her best. She loved being trendy and keeping with the modern styles.

Carol never judged anyone for anything. She would always say, “well everyone likes something different and that’s ok”. Sometimes she had a bit of a temper, but it didn’t come out often. Carol was a loving and supportive Wife, a kind and devoted Mother, and a proud Nana and Great Nana. In 2000, Carol suffered an aneurysm that changed her life. Her health issues continued over the years and she fought valiantly with each hurdle without complaint.  The week before Carol passed, she developed Pneumonia. Carol passed away peacefully at South Bruce Grey Health Centre, Walkerton, on Wednesday, September 25, 2024, in her 81st year, surrounded by her loving family.

Beloved wife of Bill. Loving mother of Bill Jr. (Shelley) of Cargill, Wendy (Steve) Mannerow of R.R.#2 Chesley, Wyonna (Jim) Brick of R.R.#1 Dundalk, and Sherry (Dan) Richards of Chesley. Cherished nana of Kevin (Melissa), Shelby (Tyler), Megan (Blair), Becky (Jon), Faith (Dave), Tyler (Sabrina), Matthew (Erin), Joel (Courtney), Chad (Samantha) and Brady (Elsie), and great nana of Ella, Callie, Violet, Nathan, Myla, Livie, Baker, Deluka, Ace, Wesley, and Halley. Dear sister of Joan Wilhelm of Walkerton, Les (Carolyn) Abell of Dunkeld, and Jill (Greg) Roland of Belmont, and sister-in-law of Gerald (Jessie) Prues of R.R.#2 Elmwood, Carolyn (Bruce) Sieling of Wallenstein, and Doreen Prues of Paisley. Carol will be missed by many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her parents Les and Shirley (Wilson) Abell, her grandson in infancy baby boy Mannerow, her brothers-in-law Wayne Prues, Ken Stuempfle, and Gerald Wilhelm, and her parents-in-law Eric and Marguerite (Hamel) Prues.

Visitation will be held at Rhody Family Funeral Home, Chesley, on Tuesday, October 1, 2024, from 6 – 9 p.m. A memorial service will be held at Paisley United Church, 399 Goldie St, Paisley, on Wednesday, October 2, 2024, at 11 a.m. Inurnment in Douglas Hill Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations to Saugeen Hospice Inc., Lung Association, Heart & Stroke Foundation, Diabetes Canada, or Arthritis Society Canada, all charities that Carol avidly supported, would be appreciated as expressions of sympathy.