Shirley Boero

(nee Watters)

Age 95 of Coal City, Illinois, passed away peacefully on August 18, 2025, at ARC at Dwight.

Born on July 7, 1930, in Morris, Illinois, Shirley Therese was a daughter of Charlie and Alice (Black) Watters. She was raised in Morris and graduated from St. Angela Academy.

On April 7, 1951, Shirley married Louis Boero in Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Morris and together they raised six children.

After raising her family, Shirley earned her teaching degree from Lewis University in Romeoville in 1975. She went on to teach 5th grade at Braceville Grade School until retiring in 1990.

Shirley was involved in many volunteer activities including Secretary to the Grundy County Board of the Red Cross and Secretary to the Homemakers Education Association. She was a member of Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Roman Catholic Church in Coal City where she was active with The Martha’s, sang in the choir for 50 years, and served as a Lay Minister of Care. In addition, she volunteered in the first grade at the Coal City Grade School and for St. Vincents Table.

Shirley loved spending time with her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. She had many friends, loved to visit and enjoyed playing cards.

Survivors include her children: Patti (Tracy) Monk of Newport, Washington, Joe (Rose) Boero of Custer, Wisconsin, Allie (Pete) Brown of Lena, Illinois, and Cindi (Curtis) Grove of Coal City; grandchildren: Kelly (Nate) Short, Tim (Michelle) Brown, Laura (Matt) Hedges, Margaret (Caleb) Rhody, John Boero, David (Katrina) Boero, Lou (Kaitlin) Grove and James Grove, and (11) great grandchildren, as well as several nieces and nephews.

Shirley was preceded in death by her parents, Alice and Charlie Watters; husband, Lou; sons: Charlie and Christopher Boero; brothers: Don Watters and Kenneth Watters, and sisters: Alice Mae Shuler, Mildred Watters and Ruth Bryant.

The family will receive friends for a visitation in The Berst Hall of Assumption Parish, 150 South Kankakee Street, in Coal City on Saturday, August 23, 2025, from 9:00 a.m. until time of funeral service 11:00 a.m.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated with Rev. Josh Miller presiding and Deacon William Dunn assisting.

Burial will be in Mount Olivet Catholic Cemetery in Braidwood, where Shirley will be laid to rest with her late husband, Lou. Pallbearers and honorary pallbearers will be Tim Brown, John Boero, David Boero, Lou Grove, James Grove, Nate Short, Caleb Rhody, Matt Hedges and Mark Matteson.

Preferred memorials may be made as gifts in Shirley’s memory to Assumption BVM Church in Coal City or to a charity of the donor’s choosing.

Family and friends are encouraged to log onto www.ReevesFuneral.com to sign the guest book, upload photographs and share Shirley’s memorial page online through social media.

Funeral services and arrangements have been made under the direction and care of Reeves, Fruland & Baskerville Funeral Homes and Crematory in Coal City. (815-634-2125)