Thursday was the 21st anniversary of the day Shirley passed away, leaving a young daughter, a stepson, family and many friends who still miss her very much. Shirley was a very kind and loving person who was taken way too soon. When I started dating Ken, she immediately welcomed me into the family, and as the months and years passed, we became closer and closer. After being diagnosed with bone cancer at about 27 and being told she shouldn't expect more than two years at the very most, she was determined to prove the doctors wrong and did a good job of it for 20 years. After a lot to her treatments, she recovered to a point that she was ready to start a new life. She moved to LA, had more excellent doctors, went into remission, went back to work, bought a condo in Playa Vista, and enjoyed the sunshine for about 3 years. She reconnected with a friend from the past, Pete Karlis, fell back in love, married, moved to Buffalo, and adopted a beautiful daughter from Honderas and enjoyed a loving relationship with her daughter and young stepson. Unfortunately, the cancer didn't forget her and by the end of 1992, it was ravaging her body. She moved back with Ken and me in LA with the hope that the miracle that she was once been granted there would reoccur again. She fought very hard that last year and was determined to beat it once more for her family. But there were no miracles, and after being in a coma for almost a week, she slipped quietly away at home with Ken and me. But she lives on through her lovely daughter, a wonderful grandson she would adore, her sweet stepson, and in the memory of all of us who knew and loved her. We will always miss you, Shirley.
Thanks for your loving tribute to Shirley. Shirley, Janice Bushnell & I lived on ther same street & spent lot of time together. One summer we walked the 5 miles to the GOTL & luckily we hitched ride home. I have many fond memories of Shirley.
Thank you Betty for that wonderful tribute to Shirley. You captured the essence of who she was. She had kindness, grace, and beauty. She was a special friend to me when I first joined Geneva Elementary in the 5th grade coming from St. Mary's School in Cleveland. In Mrs. Varquette's class we sat at long tables instead of desks, and Shirley sat next to me and made me feel welcome when I was a scared and shy little girl. She was always kind to me and to others and I'll never forget it. The teenage "meanies" and dysfunctions that one saw during junior high and high school, never became her. She was always friendly and inclusive. She was a class act. I have thought about her this past summer especially since it was our 50th year class reunion. How I would have liked her to be there. Gone much too soon, she will never be forgotten.
Betty Platt (Holden)
Thursday was the 21st anniversary of the day Shirley passed away, leaving a young daughter, a stepson, family and many friends who still miss her very much. Shirley was a very kind and loving person who was taken way too soon. When I started dating Ken, she immediately welcomed me into the family, and as the months and years passed, we became closer and closer. After being diagnosed with bone cancer at about 27 and being told she shouldn't expect more than two years at the very most, she was determined to prove the doctors wrong and did a good job of it for 20 years. After a lot to her treatments, she recovered to a point that she was ready to start a new life. She moved to LA, had more excellent doctors, went into remission, went back to work, bought a condo in Playa Vista, and enjoyed the sunshine for about 3 years. She reconnected with a friend from the past, Pete Karlis, fell back in love, married, moved to Buffalo, and adopted a beautiful daughter from Honderas and enjoyed a loving relationship with her daughter and young stepson. Unfortunately, the cancer didn't forget her and by the end of 1992, it was ravaging her body. She moved back with Ken and me in LA with the hope that the miracle that she was once been granted there would reoccur again. She fought very hard that last year and was determined to beat it once more for her family. But there were no miracles, and after being in a coma for almost a week, she slipped quietly away at home with Ken and me. But she lives on through her lovely daughter, a wonderful grandson she would adore, her sweet stepson, and in the memory of all of us who knew and loved her. We will always miss you, Shirley.
Sharon Bonnett (LaPuma)
Thanks for your loving tribute to Shirley. Shirley, Janice Bushnell & I lived on ther same street & spent lot of time together. One summer we walked the 5 miles to the GOTL & luckily we hitched ride home. I have many fond memories of Shirley.
Pauline Postotnik (Coker)
Thank you Betty for that wonderful tribute to Shirley. You captured the essence of who she was. She had kindness, grace, and beauty. She was a special friend to me when I first joined Geneva Elementary in the 5th grade coming from St. Mary's School in Cleveland. In Mrs. Varquette's class we sat at long tables instead of desks, and Shirley sat next to me and made me feel welcome when I was a scared and shy little girl. She was always kind to me and to others and I'll never forget it. The teenage "meanies" and dysfunctions that one saw during junior high and high school, never became her. She was always friendly and inclusive. She was a class act. I have thought about her this past summer especially since it was our 50th year class reunion. How I would have liked her to be there. Gone much too soon, she will never be forgotten.