Shirley was born on September 15, 1941, in Rochester, New York, to parents Orlando Vitale and Antoinette D’Orazio. The family later relocated to Florida, where Shirley eventually made a permanent home in the Ocala/Belleview area.
She graduated from Southwest Senior High School in 1958. Shirley led an adventurous life, finding success in many careers, from an award-winning auctioneer to a corrections officer. Her entrepreneurial spirit shone through as she moved through each stage of her life.
As the matriarch of her family, Shirley is survived by her daughters, Antoinette (Toni) Ford and Shirley Ford Durbin. She also leaves behind her beloved 11 grandchildren and a bountiful 16 great-grandchildren.
Services will be held on Friday, October 18, 2024 at 11:00 am at Belleview Cemetery, where she will be laid to rest next to her lifelong best friend, Helen Ruhland.”
