Shirley Major

Winnifred Shirley Major passed away with family at her side on February 28, 2025 at age 95, in Saskatoon.

Born at St Paul’s Hospital in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan on July 12, 1929, to Reuben and Florence Winnifred Helgeson. Shirley was a loving wife and mother who raised three of her own children and four foster children, was an avid gardener, business woman and, in her retirement, a tireless musician and volunteer.

Shirley learned to play the guitar when she was a teenager and accompanied her father, a fiddle player, at country dances. It sparked a love for old time and country music that she enjoyed all her life.

As a young woman, Shirley worked as a girls’ supervisor at St. Alban’s and All Saint’s Indian Residential Schools in Prince Albert until she met and married the love of her life, George Major. They farmed in the Fir Ridge district east of Prince Albert. George died from cancer in 1971, not long after the family had moved to Prince Albert.

Mom and her second husband, John Cziraky, started J&R Market Garden at Spruce Home. In the 1970s, many of the bedding plants purchased in Prince Albert were planted by Shirley. They later owned and operated a grocery store in Dundurn. Shirley was widowed again in 1980.

In retirement, she discovered the dobro guitar. She sought out like-minded musicians and over the years, instigated or joined small combos that played at seniors’ and long-term care homes throughout Saskatoon, where they staged programs of song, skits, stories and jokes. Mom sang in the church choir and was a member of the Western Development Museum Volunteers, where she served as president for three terms.

She loved to dance, play Scrabble and write letters to her many pen-pals. She wrote several short, humorous accounts of life in the old days for a national Seniors’ newspaper.

Shirley was predeceased by her parents, her brother Lorne Helgeson; husbands George Major and John Cziraky; sons Gordon Lindgren and Randy Major; granddaughter Carly Major.

She is survived by her son Wayne Major (Celine), daughter Fern McLaren, daughter-in-law Leslie Owens, foster son Richard Lucier (Dorothy), foster daughter Betty Ann Adam (Ian Burt); grandchildren Daniel, Jillian, Amber, Nikki, Travis, Dylan, Jason, Dean, Tasha and Lucia; and numerous great grandchildren.

Shirley is also survived by her sister Hazel Arnold (Terry), niece Sherry and nephew Ward.

The family send special thanks to the Lutheran Special Care Home staff and her friends there.

A celebration of life and interment will be in Prince Albert in July. The date will be posted on the Martens Warman Funeral Home webpage.