Shirley Ann O'Donnell

Shirley O’Donnell

72 years of age

Bakersfield, CA

Died on Sunday, March 7, 2021

Died at Memorial Hospital in Bakersfield, CA

Surgery to her right shoulder – never regained conscious afterwards

Born September 23, 1948

Napa, CA

She graduated from Napa Senior High School in 1966

Her best friend in High School was Anne McKenzie

She then attended Napa Junior College

She married Ed O’Donnell on August 17, 1968 and were married for 52 years and 7 months at the time of her death

She worked for and retired from Wells Fargo Bank

She then worked for many years as a licensed State of California CISR for Walter Mortensen Insurance here in Bakersfield, CA

It would be impossible to list all of her friends…She was involved with the Catholic Church, The Missing Links Golf Club, the Kern River Women’s Golf Club,

The Solera Del Webb Quilting Group, played cards every week for 4-hours with friends, and traveling was a passion of hers.

She traveled to Hawaii, Florida, Louisiana, Georgia, Texas, Mexico, Bahamas, Ireland and she really loved to spend time golfing in Palm Springs, CA.

She could cook from scratch clam chowder, lasagna, spaghetti, and so many other dishes……wow.

She resided with her husband in the Solera Del Webb community for the past 15+ years and in Bakersfield for the past 23 years.

Shirl’s immediate family: Ed the husband. Sons, Paul and Bill. Grandchildren, Ashley, Sky, Nikoi, and Grayson. Best daughter-in-law: Rachel. Best grandson-in-law: Tim. Best fiancé (for Paul) is Alina.

Shirley is preceded in death by her Mother Mary, her Father George and her sister Winnie.

She is also survived by her brother Tom and his wife, Linda; sisters Janette, Anna, and Joan as well as many, many Nieces and Nephews that she loved and adored.

All who knew Shirley knew she was not a push over. She would fight with anyone to ensure that you had the best chances in your lives. She was fierce in her love, but she was also quite willing to kick your butt if you were simply slacking off.

A wonderfully clever woman, who read so extensively, cooked like a dream, made everything lovely around her. And, she could laugh so hard when she chose too. And, she definitely was not impressed by those who thought they were so important.

She made the life for both her and her husband into something that could be celebrated. A life that was to be shared. A life that was so wonderful. I never really heard her complaining about the pain she had to have lived with, and all the operations she had, she just got on with life. She made the world a better place and we are all better for having known her.

May God take her in his/her arms now and forever. I, your husband, will hold you once again someday.

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Funeral to be held at Hillcrest Park & Mortuary, 9101 Kern Canyon Road, Bakersfield, CA 93306 on Monday, March 22, 2021 from 10:00 – 11:30 am