Shirley Ann Thurmond Stanley, 83, ended her rich, loving life on earth Tuesday, February 13, 2018.
Her legacy lives on in the lives and families of her six children, 11 grandchildren and seven great grandchildren (so far).
Daughter of Madeline and George Thurmond, Shirley grew up in Newton and Scituate, Mass., graduating from high school at 16 and earning a bachelor’s degree from Wheelock College in Boston. After teaching elementary school for a year, she married James Edward Stanley, then a fighter pilot, in 1956.
After leaving the Air Force, Jim Stanley worked in the paper industry and the family lived in Albany, NY, Richmond, VA, and Atlanta, GA, before settling down in Green Bay in 1965.
Shirley continued to fill in as a substitute teacher in Catholic Schools while serving in numerous volunteer roles, among them: Service League, St. Matthew Parish Council, Abbot Pennings High School Board, the Red Cross, NEW Community Shelter and Old St. Joe’s Parish on the St. Norbert College campus in De Pere.
Known for her kindness toward all she met, her daily life embodied a favorite quote, from St. Francis of Assisi: “Preach the Gospel at all times. If necessary, use words.”
She is survived by sons and daughters George and Pam (Gruesen) Stanley; Kelly and Tom Patnoe; Tracy Stanley and Jack Levin; Jamey Stanley; Jack and Beth (Igo) Stanley; and Tim Stanley. Grandsons and granddaughters: Nick and Susie (Locke) Stanley; Shannon and David Love; Greg, Lauren and Ben Stanley; Sarah and Matt Weber; Sam and Amy Patnoe; Alex Patnoe; James, Grace and Michael Stanley; great-grandchildren Madeline, Jim and Teresa Stanley; Charlie and Jack Love; Rose Weber and Isabel Patnoe. She is also survived by brother Peter Thurmond and Miffy Somers; sister-in-law Mary Jane Stanley; nieces and nephews; and special friends Lee and Pete Hoeft, their children and grandchildren.
She will be missed by her friends at “home away from home” Old St. Joe’s, the Dining Dollies, Tuesday Breakfast Club and Taco Tuesday gang.
She is reunited in heaven with Jim Stanley; children Nancy and Geoffrey, who died in infancy; brothers Bruce Thurmond, Tom and Caroline Thurmond; sister-and-brothers- in-law Mary and Bill Schoenthaler and George Stanley.
Family and friends may visit at Old St. Joseph Church on the St. Norbert College Campus, De Pere on Friday, February 16, from 5:00pm until 7:00pm. Visitation will continue at the church on Saturday, February 17, from 9:30am until 10:45am. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00am with Rev. Michael Brennan, O.Praem officiating. Burial will take place in Allouez Catholic Cemetery. Cotter Funeral Home and Crematory is assisting the family. Online condolences may be expressed at www.cotterfuneralhome.com.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks for prayers and contributions in Shirley’s name to St. Norbert College Parish, snc.edu/parish, or the St. Norbert Fund for Annual Student Aid, http://giving.snc.edu/waystogive/snf.html