Obituary for Shirley Vasquez
Shirley Vasquez 79 of Peru passed away peacefully on September 3rd in her residence.
Born on April 17, 1945 and raised in Peru, Shirley was the youngest of seven children in the Micheli household, where her father was a sheet metal worker.
Shirley married her high school sweetheart Joseph Vasquez in 1966. Together they built a wonderful life, raising two children and mentoring so many more.
Like her husband, Shirley worked for the school system in Oglesby, as an assistant to the superintendent. She was a capable administrator, but she was truly gifted at making people feel comfortable and happy. At school, she always had candy on hand for the kids who stopped into the office. As a wife to Coach Vasquez at the LaSalle-Peru high school, she often interceded when a player required additional help or just some loving encouragement.
Shirley’s outgoing nature meant that she had many friends, for whom she often cooked legendary meals. It was common for visitors to leave her lovely home with lots of delicious leftovers. Her recipes will be enjoyed by friends and family for years to come. She was also an avid fisherman, seamstress, and gardener. Above all, Shirley was a kind person. She listened to people and offered help, especially to children. To many of her neighbors, Shirley was an honorary grandmother, someone who not only opened her door, but left it open. She made poached eggs and cinnamon rolls, lasagna, polenta, and a host of other favorites for those she loved. She taught crochet and shared her love of home decorating. To raise money for her community, she volunteered her time to make ravs and worked at PADS. She made people feel loved.
Her husband Joe passed away just two weeks prior to her death. Having bravely faced a chronic illness for several years, Shirley peacefully passed away, surrounded by her family and friends, at the home that she made with Joe for nearly 60 years. We are confident that she and Joe are watching over us – fishing, cooking, and above all smiling. Shirley is survived by her children and grandchildren. A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, September 14 at 2:00-5:00 pm at Burgess Funeral Home in LaSalle, Illinois. Inquiries should be directed to Burgess Funeral Home.
On line condolences may be expressed at www.burgessfh.com
In lieu of flowers memorials may be directed to the family for her favorite charities.
To plant a tree in memory of Shirley Vasquez, visit the Tribute Store.
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