Shelley Lee O'Connor

With profound sadness we announce the passing of Shelley Lee O'Connor, our loving and devoted wife, mother, sister and friend, on Sunday, January 30, 2022.

This is the obituary of a woman who lived an extraordinary life and touched the hearts of many around the world. She was born Shelley Guse, in Fort William, Ontario on October 22, 1968 to Leonard and Joan. With her Dad she learned to love to fish spending many hours out on the lake with him and her sisters. Mom taught her how to cook and how to be a wonderful mother. As a child many hours were spent on the front boulevard with her sisters doing cartwheels, at Heath Pool swimming and up and down the streets of Westfort riding bikes. Shelley loved the family camp in McKenzie and all the fun to be had while making precious memories.

Shelley met the love of her life, Dennis O’Connor, at Buns Master Bakery where they both worked. It didn’t take them long to figure out that they were meant to spend their lives together. They married and went on to have their two boys, Mitchell and Andrew. Shelley’s water broke in the cafeteria at Lakehead University when Mitchell decided it was time to enter the world. Andrew waited until Mom had paid all the bills before joining the family.

While raising her beautiful family Shelley continued to pursue her education. She studied for her CGA designation. While studying she worked for Air Liquide Canada and NEOS Products in their finance departments before moving to a career with Bombardier as a buyer. She worked her way up to senior buyer and eventually as Regional Commodity Buyer – Americas at Alstom. In her work with Bombardier/Alstom Shelley had the privilege of working with wonderful people here in Thunder Bay, at her office in Montreal and all around the world. She worked on an extended stay in Romania and it became one of her favourite places in the world. Her work family has expressed that they will miss her immensely.

Shelley was known for her honesty, not holding back her opinion and had a knack for telling it like it is. She always told you the truth even if it wasn’t what you wanted to hear. Although direct you couldn’t find a kinder more beautiful soul willing to help anyone in need.

Shelley loved her family (particularly proud of her grandchildren), her work, camp, fishing and above all her dogs. Over the years Shelley has loved many dogs and would have a houseful if Dennis was not the voice of reason. In the last few years, during covid, Shelley began to paint and as with everything else she did she was brilliant. She would proudly share pictures of her latest works with her family and friends. She shared this love of painting with her precious little boys. 

Shelley was a collector of almost anything. She left behind a hell of a lot of stuff to her husband and sons who have no idea what to do with it. So if you’re looking for a couple of VCR’s, an original PlayStation or some Tupperware just let them know…….. You should wait the appropriate amount of time and get in touch. Tomorrow would be fine.

She leaves behind a very dysfunctional family that she was really proud of. They include her husband, Dennis O’Connor; son Mitchell and daughter-in-law Brenda; son Andrew. Her beloved grandsons, William, Erik and Patrick. Also left to mourn are her sister Cheryl St James and husband Patrick; sister Francine Fitzgerald and husband Doug, Nanaimo BC; sister Michelle Guse and husband David Dunn, Pembroke ON. Shelley will be sadly missed by her sisters-in-law Gerrarda Serveillo, Kelly Wilson and husband Steve, Quebec, Darlene O’Connor and husband Steve, Quebec and Johanne St Laurent. She will be forever remembered by her many aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.

Shelley was pre-deceased by her parents Leonard and Joan Guse; her mother-in-law Mary Ellen O’Connor and father-in-law Ken O’Connor; brothers-in-law Patrick O’Connor and Ken O’Connor; sister-in-law Coreen O’Connor.

A celebration of Shelley’s life will be held in the summer. We will share the time and location at a later date.
Donations to Autism Canada, Wesway Thunder Bay or Thunder Bay Humane Society are welcome and appreciated.

Arrangements have been entrusted to the WESTFORT CHAPEL, 420 West Gore Street at James.

Shelley will be dearly missed and held forever in our hearts.

May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face;
the rains fall soft upon your fields
and until we meet again,
may God hold you in the palm of his hand.