Photo courtesy of Rindskopf-Roth Funeral Chapel - Saint Louis
Aug 9, 1931 - Jan 9, 2026
I felt that Shirley was like a 2nd mother to me and a dear trusted friend. She would include me in so many things and our time together in the pool at the J was priceless. We moved back to Chicago 13 years ago but she was always in my thoughts. God bless all the Alpers!
Dave Ward
March 04, 2026 | Chicago, IL | Friend
My sincere condolences to the Alper family and loved ones. My thoughts and prayers are with you all.
Michael Spitz
January 12, 2026 | Friend
Shirley was the most wonderful and sweetest friend and neighbor I have ever been fortunate to know! What a sweetheart! She and Dave were such special friends and neighbors. I loved them both! May their memory be a blessing.
Lynda Tauch
January 11, 2026 | Chesterfield, MO | Friend
Our deepest sympathy.
Ilene & Edmund Diamond
January 11, 2026 | Skokie, IL | Friend
Aunt Shirley was an integral part of my young life. The Alper’s were/are family. She will always be remembered.
terry sova
January 11, 2026 | Saint Louis, MO | Family
May her memory be a blessing and the love she shared live on. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
Susie ORENSTEIN
January 11, 2026 | Maryland Heights, MO | Family
Shirley will be missed by all who knew her!
Elissa and Joe Marchbein
January 11, 2026 | Weldon Spring, MO | Friend
May her memory be a blessing
Pepe Roskin
January 10, 2026 | Friend
My heart goes out to her devoted family.
Shirley was a friend to all.
Donna Lieberman Warwick
January 10, 2026 | Champaign, IL | Neighbor
Shirley Rosen Alper of Chesterfield passed away January 9, 2026. She was 94 and lived a life surrounded by family and friends. Shirley was born in Wichita, Kansas, the daughter of Herman and Dena Rosen, sister of Gladys Reeves-Kandel and Lester Rosen.
In 1949, Shirley met the love of her life, Dave Alper, who shared 40 years and raised three children with her. When Dave died in 1990, his obituary was posted in the New York Daily News as the “Shoeman of Baseball”.
Surviving are Marla Brichta (Rand), Steve Alper (Ellen) and Craig Alper (Kerri). Shirley leaves behind eight grandchildren, Michael (Tressie) Brichta, Julie Brichta, Emily Alper, of blessed memory, Melissa (Wade) Forrester and Andi (Matt) Deutsch, Zander, Carli and Sadie Alper. and four great-grandchildren, Gabbie, Stefan and Elena Brichta and Sara Forrester, and a lifetime of recipes and memories. She will be dearly missed by her sister-in-law and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
Shirley and Dave opened Marte Shoes at the downtown corner of 14th and Washington in 1969. Both sons worked there but Shirley ran the ship. Everywhere she went around town, people would come up and greet “Miss Marte”. The store was sold in 2007. In 2010, she began volunteering in the NCJWSTL Resale Shop and was honored as a volunteer of the year in 2018.
The family wants to express their gratitude to the people at Brookdale and Delmar Gardens. The family is forever grateful to the love and care that Beryl Browning and her team at Extended Hands provided in her last weeks.
Graveside service Sunday, January 11, 1:30pm at Chesed Shel Emeth Cemetery, 650 White Road. Live stream available by clicking "watch video", below. Contributions in Shirley’s memory preferred to the Emily Lynn Alper Women’s Emergency Services fund at National Council of Jewish Women St. Louis (www.ncjwstl.org).
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