In Memory of Shirley Kan Huang Suk-Ling 簡黃淑玲

November 19, 1934 – September 18, 2026

Shirley passed away peacefully on Friday September 18, 2026. All her life, she was strongly independent and possessed an adventurous spirit. In 1956, she continued to pursue her career in nursing by travelling on the ship S.S. Canton from China to England on her own. Shirley spent six years there to further her education at the South London Hospital in Clapton Common, London. She was always proud of her ability to speak English.

Around 1962, Shirley chose to relocate for another opportunity and ended up in Hamilton, Ontario where she worked as an ICU nurse at Chedoke Hospital. It was there where she met Kelvin, her beloved husband of over 57 years. Throughout her life, she still identified as a nurse even though she stopped working when her first child was born.

Shirley always made her home a welcoming sanctuary for friends and relatives, especially those new to Canada. She thoroughly relished her roles as ambassador and hostess. She was very excited when her favourite brother Norman and his wife Kitty immigrated to Toronto in the late 1980s. After they passed away, she kept them in her thoughts and prayers. She also kept in touch with her eldest brother’s son Tim, daughter-in-law Justine and their son Jason. After the pandemic, Shirley was grateful to reconnect with Lily, her first cousin once removed. Lily along with Boris (Lily’s son) and his family provided unwavering support since they came to Canada in 2023.

Shirley had an outgoing personality and enjoyed her hobbies. She participated in many sports when she was younger and studied tai-chi as an adult. She appreciated music and loved to sing the men’s part in Chinese operas. Shirley learned to knit, crochet and sew; creating various garments for family and friends over the years. She was particularly good at math which helped when she played bridge, bingo and mahjong.

The support from the nursing staff at Mon Sheong (Private Care/Scarborough Long Term Care) was appreciated. Shirley loved having visitors and chatting with friends.

A very special thank you to our private sitters (Patty, Lynn, Maggie, and Sunny) for their love, compassion and kindness. They treated Shirley like family, and we had complete trust that she was getting the best care possible from them.

Shirley will be lovingly remembered and dearly missed by her family Karen (Eric), Sharon and Sandra, honourary children Sadia and Christoph, as well as many relatives and friends. Her joyful spirit was evident to all who knew her.

Family will be receiving guests at York Cemetery and Funeral Centre (160 Beecroft Rd.) on Monday October 5, 2026 at 9:30am; with a service to begin at 10:30am and burial to follow. Lunch will be hosted afterwards at Legend Chinese Restaurant (5 Glen Cameron Rd.)

Family and friends are welcome to send flowers or in lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that donations be made to Canadian Nurses Foundation, Baycrest Foundation or St. John’s Anglican Church.