Shirley Eileen Fischer

1928 - 2023

Shirley Eileen Fischer was born in Harvey Township on her grandparents' farm in North Dakota on November 23, 1928, to Roy & Eileen Hennager. She attended Harvey #1 School and Langdon High School. Shortly after graduation, she married her high school sweetheart, and love of her life, Lloyd Fischer. They moved to California, where they eventually settled on Hudson Landing in Royal Oaks. It was there they raised their eight children. Over the years, in addition to mom, Shirley held a variety of jobs, including a window dresser at Woolworth's, the cafeteria lady at Watsonville High School and a motel manager. In their retirement years, Shirley and Lloyd built their dream home in Aromas overlooking the Pajaro Valley. Yosemite was a special place for Shirley and her family. Shirley and Lloyd, along with their children, purchased motels just outside the National Park in 1976. In 1985, Shirley stepped in unexpectedly as the manager. What was supposed to be a temporary job turned into a decade of work. Her years of experience as a mother of eight made her a natural, and she enjoyed the work and the people very much.In retirement, Shirley enjoyed traveling. She visited Niagara Falls, New York, Hawaii, the Panama Canal, and various places in Europe, including Ireland, tracing her family tree and visiting the home of her great grandfather. For all she did in her life, her greatest pleasure was being a grandma. A proud grandmother to 24 grandchildren and 39 great grandchildren, Shirley stayed busy attending countless sporting events, plays, recitals, open houses, birthday parties, graduations, baptisms, and weddings. All of which were very important to her. Her home was always full of love and family. She enjoyed making memories with her grandchildren sharing tea parties, taking them to the circus, Broadway and even on a cruise to Mexico. The large number of people that was her family never stopped her from bringing them all together, the way she saw it, she was blessed. Her home was the gathering place for many magical Christmases, joyous Easters and cozy Thanksgiving meals, all of which she was sure to have homemade cinnamon rolls, and coconut rolls.Shirley was a woman of great faith and optimism. In both sunshine and storms, Shirley could often be found in the pews of one of the local Catholic Churches. She lived her faith through her kindness, open heart and love for others. Shirley passed away peacefully on September 29th in the home she and her husband built in Aromas, surrounded by family. She was 94 years old.Throughout their lives, Shirley and Lloyd worked hard to provide and build a better life for their children and grandchildren. They strongly believed in education and helped to ensure their grandchildren had the opportunity to pursue education to the highest level. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to be made to Moreland Notre Dame School or Saint Francis High School.The family is grateful to the crew from Myrna's Home Care. Shirley truly loved having them in her life.Shirley is preceded in death by her husband Lloyd Fischer, her three sons, Thomas Fischer, David Fischer and Stewart Fischer, her sisters, Myrtle Kram, and Phyllis Byrne, and great-granddaughter, Baylee Torres.She is survived by her children daughter-in-law Leslie Fischer, Gerald (Karane) Fischer, daughter-in-law April Fischer, Steven (Melissa) Fischer, daughter-in-law Charlotte Fischer, Charles (Christina) Fischer, Wanda (Steve) Plumlee, and Cheryl (Rufino) Rangel, 24 grandchildren, 39 great grandchildren, and siblings Dolly Mostad, Robert Hennager, Betty Coyle, Lyle Hennager, David Hennager, Keith Hennager, and Kenneth Hennager.A rosary will be held at Mehl's Colonial Chapel on Thursday, October 5, 2023 at 7 pm. A funeral mass and burial will be held Friday, October 6, 2023 at Holy Eucharist at 11 am.