Dr. Ashlee Grace McGuirk
1987-2019
It is with profound sorrow that we announce the death of
Ashlee Grace McGuirk of Hamilton, Ontario, on July 5, 2019, at the age
of 31. Born in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, on December 7,
1987, she was the beloved daughter of Ken and Cindy (Doiron) McGuirk,
and sister to cherished brother, Connor (girlfriend, Amanda) from
Kanata, Ontario.
In 2012, Ashlee Grace fulfilled her long-held dream of
becoming a veterinarian and received her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine
from the Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph. Dr. Grace,
as she was known to her patients, was a passionate, dedicated, and
intelligent young woman who poured her heart and soul into all pets
and families under her care. Calling Ashlee an animal lover is an
understatement: she would stop every dog she met to shower them with
affection, she was an avid horse enthusiast who loved riding and all
things horse-related, and treasured the time spent with her three
fur-babies, Scotia, Simone, and Sassenach. She often stated
that her cats didn’t live with her, she lived with
them.
Ashlee had an artistic flair, was an active member of
Toastmasters International, delighted in running unabashedly in tutus,
and would knit and spin any wool she could lay her hands on. Ashlee
was always up for an adventure and investigating new culinary delights
with friends and family. She loved to bake and often brought goodies
to her friends and colleagues. She enjoyed game nights and delighted
in discussing science fiction favourites like Doctor Who,
Supernatural, and Firefly.
Above all else, Ashlee loved her family. Annual family
vacations on PEI were a favourite, connecting Ashlee to her Maritime
roots. Her mom, dad, and brother will forever share the memories of
those fun-filled long drives to the east coast, eating all the great
food her mother prepared for every trip. When home in Kanata, Ashlee
would often bake her dad’s favourite molasses drop cookies
and spend big-sister time with Connor.
Along with her parents and brother, Ashlee is survived by her
paternal grandmother, Mary McGuirk, Charlottetown, PEI, with whom she
shared a special bond. Also, left to grieve are her aunts and uncles;
Frank McGuirk, Leona McCarthy, Arlene van Diepen (John), Sharon
McGuirk, Laurie McBride (John), Darlene Doiron, all of PEI; Diane
McGuirk (Hector MacPhail), Bonita Moore (Gary), Brian McGuirk
(Sheila), Susan Doiron, all of Nova Scotia; Mervin McGuirk (Kelli),
Paula McGuirk-Lemay (Mike), both from Ontario; and many cousins who
will remember special vacation time together, both in Ontario and at
Cavendish Maples Cottages on PEI. Ashlee Grace was predeceased by her
maternal grandparents, Clayton and Gertrude (nee Shepard) Doiron and
cousin, Joshua van Diepen. She will be deeply missed by her family,
friends, and colleagues.
A celebration of Ashlee’s life will be held at
Tubman Funeral Homes, 3440 Richmond Road, Nepean, ON, K2H 8H7 (between
Bayshore and Baseline Road) on Sunday, July 14, from 1:30 –
3:30 p.m.; Words of Remembrance at 2:00 p.m. Donations can be made
through www.tubmanfuneralhomes.com to the Farley Foundation or the
Canadian Mental Health Association of Ontario.
A celebration of Ashlee’s life will be held at the
Hennessey Cutcliffe Funeral Home, 33-35 Longworth Avenue,
Charlottetown, PEI C1A 7M8 on Thursday, July 18, at 5:00
p.m.
“There’s no place I can be
Since I’ve found Serenity.
And you can’t take the sky from me.”
– The Ballad of Serenity by Joss Whedon, from “Firefly”
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Dr Ashlee Grace McGuirk 19872019..
Death notice for the town of: Charlottetown, Province: I-P-E