Obituary of Shirley Dunbar

With great sadness, we wish to announce that Shirley Mabel Dunbar (Pyke), 90, of Oshawa, ON passed away peacefully after a brief illness at Lakeridge Health Hospital on April 29, 2026.

Born in Glace Bay, NS on May 11, 1935 she was the daughter of Frank and Annie Pyke. Shirley moved with her family to Toronto, ON at the young age of 12. She later met and married her husband, Leroy (Lee) Dunbar and together they raised four sons.

She raised her family in Port Dover, ON, later relocating to Oshawa, ON. She took much pride in being an exceptional homemaker, excelling at decorating, knitting, crocheting, needle point and sewing. She was highly regarded for her culinary skills and will always be remembered for her delicious pies and desserts.

She loved to travel and in her 90th year attended her grandsons wedding in Panama.

Lee’s work took them to Romania, and she fondly shared their experiences living abroad for 2 years.

She especially loved playing Bridge with her close circle of enthusiastic bridge playing friends including Karin, Ruby, and Reit.

She was an avid reader who always had a book close by and enjoyed a great mystery/crime novel.

She was a big follower of hockey and baseball, always cheering for her beloved Toronto Blue Jays and Toronto Maple Leafs.

She had a passion for life and will be forever remembered for her beautiful smile, her quick whit, her joyful disposition, and her kind, caring gentleness. Shirley was “a wonderful lady, always a class act”.

Shirley loved nothing more than she loved her family. She spent her summers at the family cottage in Arisaig, NS for over 30 years, where she hosted many good times with family and friends.

Shirley is survived by her loving sons Ronald (Karen), Glenn (Jocelyn) and Robert (Michelle), and by her cherished grandchildren James (Ari), Luke (Emma), Rory (Sarah), Kole (Suzi), Jack, and great grandson Iro.

She is also survived by her sister-in-laws, Hope MacDonald and Mary Dunbar, Antigonish NS, and Joan (Archie) MacIsaac, Dartmouth NS, as well as many loving nieces and nephews.

Shirley was predeceased by her loving husband Lee in 2015 and her oldest son, Kenneth in 1982. She was the last surviving member of her immediate family, and besides her parents she was predeceased by her sisters Vera and Viola; brothers Jack, Cyril, Milton, and Albert.

The family wish to express special thanks to the staff on 6C at Lakeridge Health Hospital, for their compassionate care.

Rest peacefully, Mom. You will be deeply missed and forever cherished.

Cremation has taken place. As per Shirley’s request, a graveside commital service will take place at the Port Dover Cemetary in Port Dover, ON on June 27, 2026 at 11:00 am.

Memorial donations in Shirley’s memory may be made to the Canadian Cancer Society or a Charity of choice.