Shirley Mae Brashler

1923 - 2015

Shirley Mae Brashler

Born: Sept. 11, 1923

Died: June 24, 2015

Shirley Mae Franz Brashler, age 91 went to be with the Lord on June 24, 2015. Shirley was born in Chicago on September 11, 1923 to William E. and Evelyn C. Franz (nee Morrall), both first generation US citizens. A few years later, her brother Bill completed the family.

As a child who grew up in the depression, Shirley developed a keen ability to cope with scarcity and a commitment to the American dream. She studied piano from childhood and in the early 1940s studied at the Chicago Conservatory of Music.

In 1944 she married Richard (Dick) Brashler. At the end of the war, Shirley set about making a home for her growing family, eventually including three children, Rick, Jan, Craig, and a number of beloved dogs and cats. Over the years Shirley's talents for gardening, home decorating, hospitality, and financial planning resulted in homes enjoyed by family and friends. Principle among these much-beloved homes is the family cottage in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, which like Shirley, is a tie that binds the family together.

Shirley was a faithful and generous friend, devoted to her children, grandchildren, great grand children, music, gardening and home making. If she knew someone was ill or suffering, she was there with a pot of soup and a bunch of flowers.

She is remembered for her passion for music, the piano, and her volunteer work with several organizations including serving as an officer on the Women's Board of Bob Roberts Children's Hospital at the University of Chicago; an officer of the Board of the Women's Association for the Major Symphony Orchestras of the United States and Canada; Executive committee member and officer of the Women's Association of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra; a governing member of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra's Board of Trustees; and a member of the Volunteer Council of the American Symphony Orchestra League. As part of her work for these organizations, she met many interesting and colorful artists, musicians and fellow volunteers. Shirley was a 50 + year member of P.E.O holding multiple offices in that organization. She loved to travel and travelled extensively with family and friends, to six out of seven continents. Shirley was active in her investment club, loved to play bridge, and most of all, loved to be at the beach or "up north" with her family to whom she was devoted.

She was preceded in death by her brother, Bill; and her parents, William and Evelyn.

She will be greatly missed by her family; children, Rick Brashler (Jane Smith), Jan Brashler, and Craig (Carol Carberry) Brashler; grandchildren, David (Jamie) Brashler, John (Gretchen) Brashler, Lindsey (Mike LaRocco) Brashler, and Doug (Maggie) Brashler; four great grandchildren, Julia, Cate, Ethan, and William (Will) Brashler; nephew and niece, Bill and Julie Franz; and nephews and niece Steven, Andy, Mike Brashler, and Susan (Brashler) Hollister.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 A.M. on August 14 at St. Mark's Episcopal Church, 320 Franklin Street, Geneva, IL 60134.

Memorial contributions may be made to the student scholarship fund at Interlochen Arts Academy: Interlochen Center for the Arts, P.O. Box 199, Interlochen, MI 49643-0199, http://www.interlochen.org; or Partners in Health at, http://www.phi.org.

To leave an online condolence for the family, visit the funeral homes obituary page at www.yursfuneralhomes.com.

For more information, please call Yurs Funeral Home of Geneva, 630-232-7337or like us on Facebook.