Shirley DeSerio

1930 - 2022

Shirley DeSerio, 91, a resident of The Brielle at Seaview for the past four years….. Named for Shirley Temple, Shirley Elizabeth Lee was born on December 17, 1930 in Rutland, Vermont. She is the daughter of Mildred and Victor Lee; her father was born in Palermo, Italy, and her mom in West Rutland, Vermont. Her maternal grandparents were Mary Teelon of Ireland and Anton Johnson of Sweden. Shirley was raised in Rutland until she was fifteen. Shirley Elizabeth Catherine Lee graduated Catherine McCauley High School in Brooklyn New York, where her parents relocated. She later attended The Barbizon School of Modeling in NYC and worked as a runway and showroom model until the late 1950's. Shirley was a runner-up for Miss Brooklyn and entered the Miss Subway Beauty Pageant. She married Michael DeSerio in 1952 at St. Gregory's Church. The couple were married for sixty-five years until his death in 2018. Only You was their wedding song. They resided in Old Mill Basin in Brooklyn, Mary Queen of Heaven parish, until her husband's passing. Shirley's five sisters and brothers, Charles, George, Robert, Anne and Mary, pre-deceased her. Shirley has three beloved daughters, Nanci LaGarenne, Linda Perham, and Joie Leigh. Her sons in law are, James LaGarenne, Christopher Perham and Rafael Rodriguez. Her six grandchildren are Jason and Eric LaGarenne, Michael, Amanda, Christopher, and Nicole Perham. Their wives and husband are respectively, Tina LaGarenne, Jennifer Olson, Nicole and Kristie Perham, Michael Lipari. Great-grandchildren are Hailey, Wesley, and Asa LaGarenne; Gavin and Colson Perham, of East Hampton, California, and Pennsylvania. Shirle, as she preferred to spell her name, will be remembered for her homemade manicotti and Sunday sauce and meatballs, and her extraordinary desserts. Among her most requested were cheese cake, creme puffs and amaretto ice cream. Shirle had a flair for fashion, she was a talented seamstress, an avid gardener who grew prized roses, and loved doing ceramics. She was a loyal friend and good listener and shared her kitchen and backyard on any given day, with friends and neighbors who dropped by for coffee and a chat. Her grandchildren will remember Grandma Shirle for playing hide n' seek games with them and making pancakes in shapes and figures they requested and loved. Shirle loved to read novels and kept the art of letter writing alive. She had perfect penmanship. Her daughters remember having parties for every occasion; their mom loved to decorate with them. Music was a big part of home life. Shirle loved Big Band music, Sinatra, Perry Como and Tony Bennett. Que Sera Sera, Don't Sit Under The Apple Tree and Let Me Call You Sweetheart, were among her favorites. A funeral will be held on Thursday, May 19th at Hanley Funeral Home, 60 New Dorp Lane, Staten Island, New York 10306, (718) 351-1800. Viewing from 2pm-4pm & 7pm-9pm. Services are on Friday, May 20, at 9:30 a.m. Catholic Mass at Our Lady Queen of Peace Church - 61 New Dorp Lane, Staten Island, New York 10306.