Shirley L. nee: Olson (age 84) Beloved wife of the late Robert E. “Curley”. Loving mother of Geralynn, Kevin, John, James (Mary) Malloy, and the late Deborah (late Terrance) Rogers, late Robert (Jeanne) Malloy, late Mary Beth (late Steven) Hein. Cherished grandmother of 17 and great-grandmother of 8. Aunt to many and a friend to all. Funeral Service Tuesday Feb. 21, 2012 from Kenny Brothers Funeral Home 3600 West 95th St. Evergreen Park, IL. 60805. Chapel prayers 9:45 am to Holy Redeemer Catholic Church for a 10:30 am mass. Visitation; Monday 3pm-9pm, Interment: St. Mary Cemetery. Please celebrate Shirley’s life at www.kennybrothersfuneral.com or 708-425-4500
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SHIRLEY L. MALLOY
When someone is identified as a natural leader, certain images come to mind. First thoughts are of a no-nonsense, tough-minded, dedicated and disciplined person. This description accurately fits Shirley L. Malloy who was indeed a born manager. She will be remembered as being highly organized, practical and realistic. She was a person who always carried a strong sense of duty with her throughout her life. Possessed with traditional “old school” morals, Shirley was an individual who clearly communicated to those around her just who she was and what she was all about. Everyone acquainted with Shirley knew her as a well-respected woman who was a stable force in her community.
Shirley was born on July 20, 1927 at Lying In Hospital in Chicago. Her parents were Andrew Olson and Marion Le Petre. Shirley was raised in Chicago and was an only child. Even as a youngster, Shirley learned to be objective and decisive. Her faith in the principles of authority and dependability was something that she carried with her throughout her life. She was raised by a single mother and early on learned that hard work was expected to survive. But life was still full of humorous stories that she readily shared, such as while babysitting her cousins, she went into the attic only to fall through the ceiling and was stuck there for many hours until Aunt Loretta returned home to see legs dangling through the ceiling!
Shirley's matter-of-fact attitude about most things was developed during her childhood. As a young girl, Shirley enjoyed being part of teams, and organizations and groups of other kids who shared similar interests. In her spare time she loved going to the movies, enjoyed writing and cooking and baking. She always loved correct English and frequently would remind us, "meat gets done, people get finished" as one of many daily corrections.
In school, Shirley was as close to being a model student as one could possibly imagine. She would eagerly complete her homework, and often put in extra study time when she felt it was necessary. A logical and focused thinker, Shirley was always good at following directions and meeting her schedules, whether they were set by her teachers or were self-imposed. Shirley’s personal motto could well have been, “Do it right the first time. She enjoyed some courses more than others, having favorite classes and teachers. Her favorite class in high school was English.
Shirley was sociable and approachable. Because she was always so straightforward in how she approached relationships, friends and family knew that what they saw was always what they got. She enjoyed the camaraderie of being with a group of friends. When Shirley was a member of a group, her interaction worked to keep the others grounded. She wasn’t afraid to confront her friends and, when necessary, she challenged them to stick to the task at hand. Those close to Shirley came to expect her high standards of performance. Later in life, she became friends with Mickie Schroeder, her maid of honor at her wedding. She also enjoyed many years with the Poker Club, which was a group of six couples that met for poker for many years.
An objective and conscientious individual, Shirley reveled in the security of her family. On July 5, 1947 Shirley exchanged wedding vows with Robert E. "Curley" Malloy at St. Columbanus Catholic Church in Chicago. Being an only child, she wanted a big family and gave birth to her first of seven children in May of the following year. One of Shirley’s most endearing qualities was her uncanny ability to remember important dates and anniversaries, and her unending enthusiasm for organizing a celebration for her family and friends.
Shirley was ever watchful of her children. She worried about them and was deeply concerned for their development as they grew up. She maintained a firm hand in their upbringing. Shirley would give her stamp of approval to their requests, as long as she could see how they might benefit. She also had the ability to enforce the rules as needed to ensure that her children were properly raised. Shirley was blessed with seven children, three daughters, Deborah, Mary Beth and Geralynn, and four sons Robert, Kevin, John and James. They were also blessed with seventeen grandchildren and eight great grandchildren., Terry, Jay, Erin, Dan, Megan, Jason, Nate, Joy, Sarah, Tim, Kevin, Stephanie, Kimberly, Thomas, Mallory, Samantha and Luke .
Being a hard worker who praised efficiency, Shirley was always striving to make improvements where they were necessary. She was able to analyze situations and problems, keeping everything and everyone on track. An excellent project supervisor, Shirley was a person who could quickly make decisions based on the information available. She worked cooperatively and expected the same from her colleagues. In both her personal and professional environments, Shirley upheld her standards. Her primary occupation was "Mom" the Best Homemaker, but she also had a 22 year career as billing computer operator for Illinois Bell. Shirley was a team player who certainly lived out the motto of “give me a job, and I will get it done.”
Shirley approached her leisure time in the same manner that she approached her life. A person who enjoyed being neat and orderly and one who understood the nature of things, she appreciated the hours she was able to devote to her various hobbies. Her favorite pursuits were collecting bells, baking cooking, television she actually collected old movies. Shirley was content to enjoy her favorite pastimes alone but was also willing to share her interests with others.
Playing by the rules was a natural thing for Shirley to do in life and that carried over to her enjoyment of sports. She also was something of a sports fan and enjoyed watching her favorite events whenever she got the opportunity. Tops on her list were baseball , basketball and football of course she was a true Chicago team fan now but while she was growing up her favorite team was the Yankee's. You could often find her yelling at the television to chastise a referee or a player for an important game.
Being generous with her time and energy, Shirley liked to belong to a variety of groups and organizations. Her desire to uphold traditions and her ability to take charge of any type of project made her a tremendous asset. Throughout her later years, Shirley was an active member of anything her children were involved in.
Faith was important to Shirley. She held high moral standards and was worried about the moral decay she saw around her. For that reason she held deep spiritual beliefs that she was willing to share. She was a member of Most Holy Redeemer Catholic Church for 45 years.
As someone who placed a high value on showing gratitude, Shirley could graciously accept a “thank you” extended to her
by those she helped. However, individual recognition wasn’t a motivating force for Shirley; rather, when she saw that there was a need to get something done, she was more than willing to give her time and energy in order to see it accomplished. Some of her most prestigious awards included Most Holy Redeemer Homecoming Queen but the title that touched her heart most was being considered # 1 Mom & Grandma by her family!
When it came time to travel or take a vacation, Shirley used her scheduling expertise to make sure everyone and everything was ready to go. That also meant that she made certain no single person was overworked in putting the trip
together. Shirley had a knack for making sure that everyone who was involved had their specific tasks and that those tasks were completed. For several years, the family vacationed on a little lake in Michigan. In retirement years favorite vacations included Disney and other Florida destinations. She also enjoyed cruising in the Caribbean twice.
When Shirley’s retirement from Illinois Bell finally arrived in 1990, she was well prepared. She used her critical evaluation
skills to make sure that every detail had been preplanned and attended to. In retirement, she found new pleasure in spending more time with family and friends. She always loved children and she babysat for friends and family for years, passing on to others her enthusiasm for cooking, baking and movies. In many ways, Shirley loved retirement. It provided her with the opportunity to catch up with her friends, attend functions and group outings, and tackle new interesting activities.
Shirley passed away on February 17, 2012 at Little Company of Mary Hospital, Evergreen Park, Illinois. She is survived by her loving children Geralynn, Kevin, John and James (Mary), her treasured grandchildren Terry, Jay, Erin, Dan, Megan, Jason, Nate, Joy, Sarah, Tim, Kevin, Stephanie, Kimberly, Thomas, Mallory, Samantha and Luke. Services were held at Most Holy Redeemer Catholic Church. Shirley was laid to rest in St. Mary Catholic Cemetery in Evergreen Park, Illinois.
All who knew her would agree that Shirley was a pillar of the community. She lived her life with her feet firmly on the ground. She had a strong work ethic, was pragmatic in her thoughts and actions, and constantly sought the means for self-improvement. She was willing to share her ideas and knowledge for the benefit of others, so that they could accomplish more in their lives. Shirley did her best to ensure that her family, friends, loved ones, co-workers, and everyone whose life she touched was given the chance to become a better person.
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