Shirley Ann Bechelli

Surrounded by her adoring family, Shirley passed peacefully from this life and into God's hands on January 20th, 2015. Shirley came into the world on February 8th, 1932 into the arms of her parents Josephine and Russell Hood in Ogden, Utah. Soon after, Shirley and her family moved to San Francisco, which became her life-long home. Her grandmother Mary (Mazie) McCormac raised Shirley and gave her a strong family foundation. Shirley attended Sherman Elementary, Marina Junior High, and Galileo High School. Shirley met Joseph Benedict Bechelli, the love of her life and best friend, at Galileo. They married on January 27th, 1951 at Saint Vincent de Paul Church. With joy, they welcomed their four sons into their lives. Even while raising her four rambunctious boys, Shirley dedicated her spare time to the SVDP community. Shirley, along with her dear friends, opened The Bottom Drawer, a charitable thrift shop, and lovingly tended it for many wonderful years. Shirley was also a past president of the De Paul Youth Program. Every day, Shirley felt immense gratitude for the many friends who shared her life, brought her joy, and lent her support. Shirley lived out her faith in the way she nurtured her relationships and how she treated everyone she met. Shirley's kind and giving nature, as well as her mischievous and good-natured humor, enriched everyone's lives.

Shirley's greatest joy was her family, and most especially her husband Joe, who loved her every day of their sixty-four years of married life. From the moment Joe discovered that fifteen-year-old Shirley had placed her phone number in his jacket pocket, their fate was sealed. Along their journey together, Shirley and Joe's devotion to one another, their unselfishness, and their integrity carried them through the challenges they faced and intensified each blessing. Shirley taught her sons, her grandchildren, and even her great-grandchildren to love unconditionally, to see the good in everyone, to laugh even in times of adversity, to give with gladness, and to have faith that God is always by their side. Shirley had extraordinary gifts; she had a knack for mending a grandchild's torn Halloween costume, for soothing a scraped knee, and for truly listening and providing just the right words of comfort or guidance.

Shirley will continue to live through her husband Joe; sons Mike, Mark, Greg, and Patrick; daughters-in-law Valerie, Jan, Cece, and Sheri; grandchildren Erin Alvarez and husband Walter, Katie DeMartini and husband Craig, Sarah Clifford and husband Patrick, Matt Bechelli, Brian Bechelli, Jacqueline Zink and husband Josh, Caitlin McSunas and husband Michael, Kelsey Bechelli and fiancé Travis Urban, Brett Bechelli, Beau Bechelli, and Brea Bechelli; great-grandchildren Danny and Mia Alvarez, Mark and Matthew DeMartini, John and Joseph Clifford; half-sister Arlene Hood; and sister-in-law Barbara Bechelli. Adrienne Arnold, Stephanie Schobert, and Mariel Rossman, nieces Suzanne, Karin, and Teresa, nephews John and Thomas, and cousins Michael, Gary, Pam, Sue, and Sandy will also miss her dearly.

The rosary will be said at 7:00 p.m. on Monday, January 26th, at Halsted N. Gray-Carew & English at 1123 Sutter Street. The Mass of Christian Burial will take place at 9:15 a.m. on Tuesday, January 27th, at Saint Vincent de Paul Church at Green and Steiner.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Saint Anthony Foundation or the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.