Shirley Burdett, a long time East Auroran, died peacefully Friday, May 13, surrounded by the love of her family. She was 92. Mrs. Burdett (nee Long) was born in Sharon PA in 1929 to the late Neale McWilliams an electrical engineer, and the late Marie Sherwood (McCune) Long, B.S., Valedictorian of the class of 1912 in Fredonia, PA. Shirley was also the stepdaughter of the late Cecelia Long Goodfellow. Shirley moved to Ebenezer, NY with her parents where they had fruit trees and bee hives in their backyard. Shirley enjoyed the sweet honey during WWII. To this day she is fascinated by the life of bees.
In eighth grade Shirley’s family moved to East Aurora where she became fast friends with Phyllis Gardner. With her friend by her side throughout Shirley’s life, she enjoyed china painting, theater and gardening. Shirley’s fondest memories include working behind the soda fountain in her father’s store (Long’s Delicatessen) during the end of WWII and listening to the juke box to celebrate the return of the boys from the war. Later in life Shirley led the way for the advancement of women working in the banking industry. She was the first female teller, first married female teller, first pregnant teller, and the first to receive maternity leave at the Liberty National Bank (Bank of America today). Shirley was a graduate of Hilbert College and enjoyed becoming a substitute Spanish teacher for the East Aurora public schools.
In addition to playing accordion on the radio during WWII, Shirley’s love and talent for music and acting was demonstrated by her roles in the Aurora Player’s productions of “ The Man in the Dog Suit”, “The Music Man”, “Oklahoma!”, and productions by The Children’s Theater of “Alice in Wonderland”, “The Wizard of Oz”, and “The Un-Wicked Witch”. Shirley was the wife of the late Richard C.Bartelt and the late K. Dale Burdett; dear mother of Cynthia Bartelt (late Paul) Laliberte and Susan Bartelt (Richard) Valentine; loving Nana of Julie Laliberte; devoted stepmother of Dean (Carol) Burdett and Susan (Kevin) Preston and the late Capt. Jay D. (late Janine) Burdett; cherished grandma of Paul and Tom (Elizabeth) Burdett, Collin and Nathan Preston, Kelley Burdett (Chad) Heidrich, Amanda Valentine (Chris) Herr and Alexandra Valentine; caring sister of Bruce Winlack (Sandy) Long, Sr. and Rodney (late Marilyn) Long. Shirley delighted in her great grand children; Bodie, Otis and Gus Burdett, Merrick Heidrich, and Leo R. Valentine Herr. Shirley was predeceased by sisters Margaret (late Richard) Huff; infant Frances Long; Virginia (late William Sr.) DeVan; and brother Samuel J. (late Frances Ann) Long. She was half-sister of late infant Donald Long, late Daniel (late Mary Ann) Long, late Dale (late Kathy) Long, and the late Pamela (late Rick) Reed. Shirley has many cherished nieces and nephews. A private family burial took place May 17 at Oakwood Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Daughters of the American Revolution, Hospice Buffalo, or the Roycrofters-At-Large Association. The family would like to thank Wood Funeral Home for their support and guidance and Hospice Buffalo for their care and compassion in our time of need.
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