Shirlee Jean Rustan
May 26, 1961 – October 21, 2021
Shirlee Jean (Frenette) Rustan was born on May 26, 1961 and died suddenly on October 21, 2021 at the Civic Hospital in Ottawa. Predeceased by her parents, Maurice & Charlotte Frenette, Shirlee was born and raised in Dryden, Ontario with her sister Lorraine Frenette-Mubita and brother Murray (Angelina) Frenette.
Shirlee married the love of her life, David Russell Joel Rustan on June 25, 1983 and the two of them built a life together first in Kanata and then in the Smiths Falls area raising their family: sons Kyle (Jessica), Brock (Chelsea) and Joel (Amanda).
Shirlee and David shared 38 wonderful years of marriage. Their love further lives on in the lives and memories of their grandchildren: Dawson, Amelia and Declan.
She loved and is loved by a great many including “Mom” Verna (Len) Rustan, her aunts, uncles, cousins, brothers- and sisters-in-law Garry (Sandra) Valorie (Wade) Marilyn and all of her nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews, their families and so many treasured neighbours and friends.
Shirlee cherished her friendships with Joan Dupuis and Mary Fisher and had a special bond with her sisters-in-law.
Throughout high school, Shirlee worked summers with the MNR. She worked tree planting and running supplies for MNR fire, often knowing more about the area than the other fellas as well as the ins and outs of the provincial parks. She spoke fondly of her time at the MNR and of the times she was able to go up for tours in the helicopters.
After high school she worked at Blue Lake Provincial Park. David was also working at Blue Lake that summer. While working at the park, they spent a lot of time venturing out on drives throughout northwestern Ontario and beyond. They knew the connection they felt together was one they could not ignore and they made the leap to move together to Ottawa when David returned to school there that fall.
After Dave completed school, they were married in the summer of 1983 holding their wedding back home in Dryden. They returned to Kanata and later moved to Smiths Falls, continuing to grow their love and their family, instilling their love of life and the outdoors with their children.
Shirlee was strong-willed, a lover and a fighter, winning the battle against breast cancer… 10 years cancer free. She overcame any challenge life gave her.
David and Shirlee were a team. She was the leader. In outdoor terms, she was his compass, his north star.
Shirlee is known for her many talents and especially for her chocolate chip cookies! She loved the outdoors, photography, sunsets, jeep rides, picking berries and scouting for mushrooms, crafting, woodworking, the family camps at Blue Lake & Ghost Lake and campfires!!!
Most of all she loved her family and friends and friends that were family. She loved spoiling her grandchildren.
Shirlee was the original Canadian picker, hunting down unique treasures or creating her own. She had an eye for decorating and redecorating.
Shirlee had an adventurous spirit even booking a hot air balloon ride and wanting to walk the outside of the CN tower.
She and David loved traveling whether it was home to Dryden, off to the states for a long weekend or to the eastern seaboard of the U.S., Florida or Hawaii. Time together was always time well spent.
The love Shirlee and Dave sparked together has fueled an eternal flame, a warm and welcoming hearth continuing to glow in the hearts of all they have touched.
A celebration of life will be held on Friday, October 29th at 3:00 p.m. at 475 Pinery Road, Smiths Falls, ON. Donations in memory of Shirlee may be directed to the Montague Forget Me Not Club, Box 1323, Smiths Falls, ON K7A 5C7 or dropped off with Lois Bennett. Donations are tax deductible, please include your address. Online memorials can be posted at https://www.barkerfh.com/listings
