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We received many notes with the news of Shirley’s passing in March 2020. We had hoped to celebrate her life but like life, the coronavirus threw us a curve ball. We hope that notes will be helpful and we look forward to sharing them with Chase and Max so they can learn even more about their Grammy.
Delaware Shirl Memories 
Shirley was a very dear friend. What I remember the most is that we always found something to laugh about. It didn’t matter where we were — in the car, in a restaurant (IHOP was our favorite), at the casino. It was fun and relaxing to be with Shirl. She was a generous and loving lady…and will be sorely missed.
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While I never met Shirley, I spoke with her several times on the phone. John C. Farnandez had suggested that I call his cousin Shirley for information on the Farnandez family tree which I was in the process of researching. John and my mother, Frances Beatson Ziegler were cousins as was Frances Lena Curry, who lived with my mother on our farm in Clayton, Delaware. My mother’s great grandmother was Laura Farnandez, her grandmother was Lena Frances Farnandez. My mother died in 2016.
John told me that Shirley’s father had recorded family stories of the Bowers Beach circus performer, Joseph Farnandez and his marriage to Laura Cartwright and their children. Shirley was so helpful! She chatted with me and was quick to share what she knew. She then offered to mail me the stories she had in her possession. I immediately felt like I knew her as she was so personable and friendly. I really appreciated her efforts in providing me with the Farnandez stories. (I also just saw in the University of Delaware’s 2020 magazine, Shirley’s In Memoriam listing.)
I continue to work on the details of my family’s genealogy. My greatest regret is that I did not get a DNA sample from my mother before she passed. I did ask John C to submit one, which he graciously did, as a genealogist recommended that I get a sample from Mom’s closest male family member. I’m not convinced yet that Joseph Farnandez was from Spain as none of my family have any Spanish DNA; but we have high percentages of Irish DNA!
Thank you for sharing the “In Loving Memory of Shirley Farnandez Schilling”–an inspiring account of the life of an interesting lady of whom you should be so proud! I would have liked to have met her. My heartfelt condolences,
Eunice Ziegler Craig
eunicecraig@comcast.net
I
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It is with a heavy heart I lost a lifetime best friend,We met in England in 1963 when I went work for her At Alconbury A.F.B in Cambridshire England she was head cashier and I and my friend Janice worked for her as cashier,s. She took me under her wing and took me to live with her to get away from the domestic violence. Before she left England I had gotten married and she threw me a baby shower. After I came to the United States we reconnected, I visited her in South Caroline’s after she retired,and she came here to Maryland on her way to visit family. She was the strongest woman I have ever know and alway,s had to be in charge!! Ha. She fought the fight I will miss her terribly, True friend,s like her are one in a million. Rest In Peace dear friend. Janet
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