Shirley A. McNamara

Shirley A. McNamara 2-16-1931 - 8-28-2013 Shirley was born in Minneapolis to Curtis and Shirley Brabec and raised in St. Paul, MN. In her senior year of high school they moved to Hartford Conn. She attended UConn where she majored in Home Economics. She put her degree to work at the Hartford Electric Light Co. doing cooking demonstrations and writing a recipe column before changing careers to full time mother. She had three children plus countless foster children. She moved with her family from coast to coast and finally back to St. Paul. As a Girl Scout and troop leader, she took the song lyrics "Make new friends but keep the old. One is silver and the other gold" to heart. Shirley made friends everywhere she went. She loved to be involved, and had a gift for gab that made her comfortable in any crowd. She was an avid knitter who also loved to sew and bake. She is survived her husband of 53 years Donald McNamara, son Mike (Jeanine) of San Rafael, daughters Carol of Burnsville, MN, and Nancy Vastagh (Gyorgy) of American Canyon, 13 grandchildren as well as countless friends across the country. A private memorial was held in her honor. In lieu of flowers or donations, please take five minutes out of your day and call your Mother.