It is with heavy hearts and deep sadness that our beloved mother, grandmother, sister and friend, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, June 19th 2019, at her brother’s home in Las Vegas, NV, under the care of hospice.
Shirley Forlenza was born on October 9, 1946, in Oklahoma City, OK, the daughter of James “Sus” and Barbara Pender. Shirley grew up in East Grand Forks, MN. After graduating high school, Shirley went to Josef’s School of Hair Design. She was united in marriage to Michael Forlenza in Grand Forks, ND, and they later moved to Mike’s home town of Staten island, NY, where she lived for over 40 years raising a family and working at St. Vincent’s Hospital. Her husband Mike passed away in 1992. Shirley later returned to EGF, MN, in 2004 to live with and care for her mother.
She is preceded in death by her parents and husband. Loving family members of Shirley include her children, Denise (Steven) Rosso of Union Beach, NJ, and Michael Forlenza of Staten Island, NY; 3 grandchildren, Jessica Rosso, Jaclyn (Ralphie) Ruiz and Steven Rosso; 2 great-grandchildren, Natalee and Luciano; brothers, Jim (Terri Staples) Pender of EGF, MN, and Chuck Pender (David Wicburg) of Las Vegas, NV along with many aunts, uncles, cousins, a niece and a nephew and great friends.
Arrangements for Shirley Forlenza:
Harmon Funeral Home
Tuesday, July 23rd 2-4 and 7-9
Wednesday, July 24th - Our Lady of Good Counsel for mass at 10am, burial to follow at St. Peter’s Cemetery.
Afterglow
I’d like the memory of me
to be a happy one,
I’d like to leave an afterglow
of smiles when life is done.
I’d like to leave an echo
whispering softly down the ways,
of happy times and laughing times
and bright and sunny days.
I’d like the tears of those who grieve,
to dry before the sun of happy memories
that I leave behind when day is done.
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