ANDREA, Shirley Ann

North Sydney

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our loving wife, mom, grandmother and sister, Shirley Ann Andrea, age 81, on Sunday, July 5, 2015 at the Northside General Hospital. Mom passed peacefully with her family by her side after a courageous fight with cancer.

Mom was a loving and kind woman who made everyone she met feel comfortable. With family as her main priority, she placed a special emphasis on Christmas and birthdays, where her cooking skills came to the forefront whether it was a Lebanese meal, turkey dinner, or baking one of her famous fruitcakes or pies. While things may have changed last December, Mom never complained and was thankful for the care she received from the nursing staff on the 2nd and 4th floors of the Northside General Hospital.

Our family thanks you for your dedication and commitment to health care. A special thanks to doctors, Kirkpatrick, Lapelle, Woodhouse and Wawer and everyone at the Cape Breton Cancer Centre. To the palliative care team, words cannot express how grateful we are, from the daily visits by volunteers to the care provided by Dr. Poulis and Cathy MacMillan.

Mom is survived by her husband of 59 years, Michael Andrea; sons, Brian (Debra) Andrea, Tennessee, Ricky (Sue) Andrea, Halifax, Gary (Lori) Andrea, Sydney; daughter, Michelle (Mario) Pino, Sydney; her grandchildren, Adam, Meaghann, Kathleen and Dominic and great-grandchildren, Eva, Jasmine and Naomi. She is also survived by her sister, Joan MacGillivary, Sydney, who did everything she could to make Mom comfortable.

Mom was predeceased by her parents, Daniel and Ellen MacGillivary, and by her brother, Donald MacGillivary.

Visitation for Shirley will be held 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Tuesday in the W.J. Dooley Funeral Home, 107 Pleasant St., North Sydney. A funeral mass will be celebrated 10 a.m. Wednesday at St. Joseph Church, North Sydney with Rev. Patrick O’Neill officiating. Cremation will follow with a burial in Holy Cross Cemetery at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, we ask that you give someone a hug and show kindness.

Online condolences may be sent to www.wjdooley.com.

Mom’s strength, determination and courage will live on in each of us. The world may be a lonelier place for us today, but we are better people because of you.

You will be missed.