Shirley Mae Taiani

Shirley Mae Taiani (b. MacDougall, 9 Jan 1927) died peacefully in Halifax on the evening of 27 September, 2023. She was the eldest daughter of Anne (Crawshaw) MacDougall and Ken MacDougall. She was predeceased by her sister Eleanor, brother Bob, and her grandson Ken. She is survived by her beloved husband of 63 years, Patrick Taiani; four children: Anne (Hanlin), Beth (Kirk MacCulloch), John (Marlene Coffey) and Noel; ten grandchildren, twelve great grandchildren, many nieces and nephews and her younger brother Scott (Andrea Johnson).

Shirley thrived through the years of the 20th Century, the troubled decades of the 21st Century, and sustained a smiling disposition throughout. She was born in Fredericton, and continued a Maritimer while spending her early years in North Sydney, Woodstock, and Moncton. In 1958 she moved with her children to the outskirts of Halifax, and there she built a life and home with Patrick, who became the love of her life.

For years Shirley had a routine of daily walks with her beloved dog, frequent fitness classes with friends, library visits, and conversations with many friends. She found joy in movement, in skating and swimming, and especially in dance. As a teenager she jitterbugged to Bill Haley and the Comets in Sydney, and in her eighties jived to Gypsophilia with her son John and nephew Randy. Even later, there was a Leonard Cohen concert with her daughter Beth, a performance of Frankly, Sinatra at the Chester Playhouse with her daughter Anne, and enjoying Lucinda Williams’ music with her brother Scott.

Shirley had a deep love of nature, and kept beautiful gardens and a dutifully tended birdfeeder. She especially loved chicadees, nuthatches, and redpoles, but even admired her arrogant crows.

Her greatest passion was her family. “Shirley and Pat,” “Pat and Shirley” - friends stumbled over the order, but they always went together. As for motherhood, that was an everyday calling, best understood by her daily walks to school with Noel as a youngster, hand in hand, one mile uphill in the morning, and one mile downhill in the afternoon.

Shirley had a special love of other women. She was devoted to her mother, her daughters, granddaughters and her friends. The poet Dorothy Parker was a guide and soulmate.

Shirley will be dearly missed by many.