Shirley Christner

Shirley Jean Christner, age 81, of Connellsville, Pennsylvania passed away peacefully on 8 July 2025 in Gainesville, Florida surrounded by family.

Born on 1 July 1944 in Hunter River, Prince Edward Island (Canada), Shirley was the beloved daughter of the late Gordon and Martha Matheson. She cherished childhood memories from PEI of country horseback rides, trips to Cavendish Beach, and ice skating on the front field pond. Shirley attended Rennies Road School and Central Queens High School before enrolling at The Prince of Wales College in Charlottetown (now part of UPEI).

In 1965, Shirley met and married her late husband, Ralph Howard Christner, and they relocated to the Laurel Highlands region of southwestern Pennsylvania. Shirley and Ralph shared 38 years together until he passed in June 2003. She was a loving mother to son Brent (Renee) Christner and adored grammy to granddaughter Kyla Rain Christner.

Shirley taught primary school in Canada during the late 1960s, worked as a retail associate at a local paint store, assisted Ralph with the daily operation of their commercial construction business, and was a dedicated homemaker. She will be remembered as a devoted wife, mother, sister, grandmother, aunt, and friend. Shirley valued and was lovingly supported by dear friends Alice Striner, Shelly Kita, and Shawn Burnsworth-Schichtel. She welcomed numerous canines and felines into her life. Few guardians had a kinder heart or cherished time with their animals more than Shirley did.

Shirley is survived by brother Vernon (Bernice) Matheson, nieces Laura (Jeremy) MacNevin and Arlene (Neil) Proude, and brother-in-law Floyd Ford. She was preceded in death by beloved sister Heather Bertha Ford and nephew Gordon David Matheson.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation (www.bcrf.org) are appreciated.

Crevasse's Simple Cremation is honored to serve the Christner family.