Shirley Digby
elevated oN2xx
Shirley Theresa Josephine Digby (nee Suares) , March 1, 1937 – August 15, 2026
elevated oN2xx It is with heavy hearts and unending gratitude for her life that we share the passing of Shirley Digby, abiding wife to Reggie and faithful mother to Raymond, John, Adrian, and Trevor. Shirley passed away peacefully in care at Maple Grove Nursing Home in Brampton, Ontario at 2:29 in the afternoon. She died as she lived, with dignity and grace.
elevated oN2xx Born on an Indian spring day in Bandra, Bombay, India, Shirley was the eldest of three children (Rosita and Jude) to Edward and Vida Suares (nee Coelho). She was surrounded by the love of her Coelho uncles, aunts and over two dozen cousins who made her early family life rich and plentiful, spawning life-long relationships that span the globe. She attended St. Joseph’s Convent School where she completed her matriculation and furthered herself thereafter with a diploma from Burnleys in Secretarial Sciences. Her Catholic faith was a mainstay throughout her life as she sought to love as Jesus loved. While she worked outside the home as a secretary for the New Zealand Trade Commission, The Ontario Ministry of Labour, and White Electronics, her first vocation and calling was to be a wife to Reg and mother to her four boys. Reg was her best friend and lover, married for 67 years, their relationship was a blessing to all who encountered them. A devoted mother, she listened to her boys’ joys and sorrows, building their capacity to be responsible, trustworthy, and successful men. Her unending attention and expectation to build a Christian family taught us all to share our time, forgive our transgressions, and welcome the lonely and newcomer. With Reg, she visited the prisons in Brampton for 20 unyielding years, playing guitar with inmates during weekly mass while Reg tutored in Math and English. You knew she was there, bringing joy to the day, whether it was as a Beaver leader named Bubbles, on the soccer pitch, yelling, ”Go Dorval, Go “ at the top of her lungs while jumbo jets roared above landing in the Dorval airport next door – or commanding a choir of 30 children at St. John Fisher and St. Anthony of Padua parishes every weekend for over 30 years. “SING GIRLS!!!!” Lastly, Shirley loved to stay active by swimming, playing tennis, and taking 30km Sunday bike rides and cross-country skiing with Reggie, well into her eighties.
elevated oN2xx Shirley leaves us with the promise that there is life after death – and we must live it. Her colourful personality, zest for life, and love of God and neighbour is the gift she leaves us all With her husband Reginald, she leaves Raymond and Karen (Joseph, Marian, Nick, Dominic), John and Patricia (Elyse, Lauren), Adrian and Carol, and Trevor and Denise (Gabriel, Hailey, Sebastien, Jasmine, Lucas, Tara)
elevated oN2xx Eternal rest grant unto her oh Lord and let perpetual light shine upon her.
elevated oN2xx The mass of the resurrection will be held at St. John Fisher Catholic Church on Saturday, August 29 at 10:30 am. A celebration of life reception will follow in the parish hall (11:30-2:00). A link for live streaming will be available on Friday, August 28, on the Assumption Catholic Cemetery website. Please join us to celebrate Shirley’s life.
elevated oN2xx To view Shirley’s Mass of the Resurrection, please click here.
elevated oN2xx In lieu of flowers and gifts please consider sending a donation to Brampton Civic Hospital
elevated oN2xx
elevated oN2xx
Peace to your family from the Quinn family.
I was a little boy, but I was there and clearly remember the day that Shirley and Reg were engaged. I was at their wedding at Mt. Mary’s Basilica in Bandra. They were at the airport in Dorval to welcome me on my arrival in Montreal in 1971.
May my cousin Shirley, rest in peace forever with her Risen Lord who was always part of her (and Reg’s) daily life.
Receive our love and condolences Dear Digby family. We give thanks for her giving us friends as all of you are.
Her love to others is reflected in your lives.
May Mrs Shirley rest in Peace
Our sincere condolences go out to Reg, Raymond & Karen, John & Patricia, Adrian & Carol and Trevor & Denise and Shirley’s grandchildren. Shirley was an important part of the community at St. John Fisher and St. Anthony’s. She will be missed!!! Rest in the Peace of our Lord.
May her family find peace during this difficult time.
Aunty Shirley lived a full life and always had a smile on her face. May the memories you have of her, comfort you as you come to terms with her loss. We will remember the family in our prayers.
May her soul rest in peace, Amen.
My sincerest condolences to the Digby family.
It was a blessing knowing Shirley. I am grateful for the time we’ve shared and for your friendship.
The moments we shared will live in my heart forever.
I pray that God gives Reggie the strength needed through this difficult time.
My condolences to the Digby family. Beautiful obituary. May she always rest in peace and her memories live on as a gift. John thinking of you and the family.
Rest in peace, my dearest friend Shirley 🙏❤️. Your prayer group enriched us, to praise and thank God in all circumstances 🙏. You are greatly missed in the John Fisher parish community. May God comfort Reggie and give him all the graces he needs to bear this great loss 🙏❤️
Our deepest condolences dear Reg and Digby family. Shirley and Reg were our first friends when we arrived in Canada. She welcomed us into the prayer group and was very kind, helpful and loving. Will miss you.
Rest in peace my dear Shirley. May God comfort and strengthen you dear Reg and family. ❤️
I have known Shirley for over two decades and I was involved with the John Fisher pray group. and worked with Shirley and Reg. We did several trips to Montreal and Quebec city . May her Soul rest in peace. She devoted her life to the Church and helped many
We will definitely miss a good person.
Sending our heartfelt sympathy to Reggie, the children, and the rest of the family. May her soul rest in eternal peace and the Lord bring you all strength and comfort.
The Britto family
Shirley was always generous in her thinking and always wanted to help. She lived life with true Christian values. She was called to her heavenly abode on the feast of the Assumption. She was cherry picked to ascend straight into heaven. Rest in peace dear cousin.
So sorry gif your loss
May you find peace and comfort knowing Shirley us with our Lord and Savior
A life of supreme devotion to her family and Faith.
May she Rest in Peace.
Shirley dearest inspired us with her zest for life and her love of God which she along with Reg has shared with us in simple gestures of food, fellowship and a short prayer everytime we visited Canada.
She has left an indelible mark and just the thought of her continues to motivate us to always pursue an active lifestyle keeping God in the centre of our life.
Shirley will be missed dearly but we look forward to her prayers for us until we meet again on the brighter side.
Reg you have an additional angel by your side now and rest assured of our prayer support for all the strength and comfort on your onward journey.
Indeed it is a life well lived and we look forward to celebrating the wonderful person Shirley was and the impact she has made on us.
Our heartfelt and sincere condolences to the entire Digby family.
Rest in peace dearest Shirley
You will be missed
You ‘re an inspiration to all
Condolences to the family
Dear Reg,Raymond,John,Adrian and Trevor and all the family
We will meet again in a place prepared by the Lord for all who love him
Please accept my condolences
Also James and Clover
Remember the cadet
Indian Resolve
Thoughts and Prayers to The Digby Family on this sad occasion.. Bless and prayers.
Our deepest condolences dear Reg Digby family. We will miss you Shirley. Eternal rest grant to Shirley O Lord and let Perpetual light shine upon her. And may the souls of all the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace Amen 🙏
Our deepest condolences to the Digby family on behalf of my family. May her soul find peace and eternal rest.
Bisram and Petrina Doorsammy
Sending our deepest condolences to Reggie, Raymond and the Digby family.
May her soul rest in Peace
Aloma & Francis Lawrence
Please accept our sincere condolences and may Shirley’s soul rest in peace.
Dear Reggie, Raymond, John, Adrian and Trevor:
We are very saddened with the passing of Shirley, a tremendous loss to you and all of us.
Shirley was a very devout, warm and friendly person, always smiling. We enjoyed our visits and friendship over the years, since your arrival in Brampton.
We offer our deepest condolence and prayers. Shirley is gone from our sight but never from our thoughts. May all the loving memories help you in your life’s journey.
Eddie and Celine
My dear Reggie and families,
We are very saddened and sorrowful to hear of your dearest and beloved Shirley’s passing away Please accept our heartfelt sympathies.
We are sure that you will take this as the will of God and accept it as “Thy will be done” knowing your extraordinary faith.
We feel very guilty for not keeping in touch but we do remember you both always
May Shirley’s soul rest in perfect peace
Dearest Digby Family,
I just learned of Mrs Digby’s passing. It was she who warmly fanned that flame within me to offer my prayers in song as a child. That flame remains with me today & is one which I have joyfully shared with my own children. I was only 6 or 7 years old when I joined the children’s choir at St John Fischer parish, a time that would span my elementary and high school years. I learned from her that the lyrics of “This Little Light of Mine”, a song she so exuberantly played & had us sing at the top of our lungs, would become a lesson for life & armour I would take with me into the world. She was a gentle, kind, & loving soul. An angel who walked among us. I am deeply saddened by the news and offer, on behalf of my Saldua family, our deepest condolences to all of her family. God has called his Angel home and the heavens are rejoicing “well done, good and faithful servant!” May she be at peace and may all the children touched by her light continue to be aflame with God’s love for all the world to see.
Eternal rest grant unto her, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon her. May her soul and those of all the faithfully departed, through the mercy of God, now rest in peace. Amen.
Our deepest condolences to Reg and all the family members. Shirley will be missed by us, as she was a role model for our family. May her soul rest in peace.
Love and prayers
Joseph & Helen Ashok
Please accept our sincere condolences and May Shirley’s Soul Rest in Peace with our Lord Jesus Christ
Rest in peace Auntie Shirley, I feel lucky to have had a relationship with you over the years and the opportunity to connect in person. ( and what a lovely well written obituary)
Dear Reggie and family,
Please accept our sincere condolences on the passing away of Shirley.
We will always remember the long walks she used to take and her dedication to the children’s choir and the 12:30 choir.
We send our heartfelt
condolences and prayers to your entire family on the loss of your beloved Mother.
May her soul rest in eternal peace.
Elaine & Gerard De Souza
John, I’m so sorry for the loss of your Mother. Sounds like she was one of a kind. May she rest in peace.
Angelique & Steve
Our sincerest condolences 💐 to you John and your beautiful family. We pray 🙏 that her soul may rest in eternal peace and that you can all find comfort in the beautiful memories and legacy she leaves behind during this difficult time.
Our time is indeed very short but sweet. Thank you for the memories from our Prayer Group. You ignited the fire in my heart for the love of Jesus. You must be playing guitar again there in heaven. I bet, you made heaven so crowded.
To Reg and to all Digby family, may God be with you through this difficult journey. May God fills you and will never feel empty and lonely.
May eternal rest grant unto Shirley o Lord, may perpetual light shine upon her, and may she rest in peace Amen!
I remember Shirley as a very prayerful and deeply caring person. She was kind enough to pray over Jennifer and me for the safe birth of our first child. She will be remembered and missed by many people. I’m sure she will continue to watch over and pray for us while in God’s presence. Our deepest condolences to Reggie, Ray, John, Adrian, Trevor and their families. May God grant her eternal rest.
Steven, Jennifer, Emily, and Mark D’Sa
Reg, I’m so sorry to hear about your wife. My deepest condolences to you and your family. Thinking of you during this difficult time.
Dear U Reggie and family and all the extended family, please do accept our sincere condolences. May dear A Shirley’s soul RIP. Will keep you all in prayer. Stay strong and take care. Love from Paticia Saldanha and family. God bless you all.
We send our heartfelt condolences, love, and prayers to your entire family on the loss of your beloved mother, Shirley. May God comfort and strengthen each of you during this difficult time, and may the precious memories of her love and life bring you peace. May her soul rest in eternal peace and may she be welcomed into God’s loving arms.
With deepest sympathy and heartfelt prayers.
Accept our sympathies. We have known the Digby family since the 1980s and the devotion they have to each other and the kindness and loyalty they show to those they become close to are a testament to her example and values
Accept my condolences Reg and the Digby family.
Shirley lived graciously.
Open hearted and embracing to all with her smiles.
Heaven has gained an angel.
May her soul rest in peace.
Dear Reggie and Family
Lorraine and I offer our sincere condolences . I have vivid memories when I was in St John Fisher Choir with Vera leading us.
Shirley Strumming her guitar ,such a joyful person.
May God give you’ll strength and grace to bear the loss of a wonderful person.
Our Deepest Sympathies to Reg, Ray, John, Trevor and your family members.
Shirley was a great inspiration to many with her spiritual walk with Our Lord. May she Rest In Eternal Peace!
We are saddened by the news of the passing of Shirley,
our condolences to the entire family.
Will and Anne Attard
Dear Reggie and family,
Please accept our heartfelt condolences on the loss of your talented wife and mother Shirley.
We know her at the Divine Retreat Center Toronto where they were attended regularly in the past.
May her dear soul rest in peace.