Shirley Elaine Aldrich

Shirley was preceded in death by her husbands, Fred and Ron; her sister, Wanda; and her brothers, Peter and Patrick.

Family was the most important thing in Shirley’s life. She is survived by her beloved sister, Hilary; her daughters, Kellie and her husband Rocky, and Tracy and her husband Brian; her stepchildren, Brian and his wife Merita, Eric and his wife Stacey, and Claire and her husband Marty. She also leaves behind her cherished grandchildren: Brandon, Jessica (husband Jake), Kiley, Lily, Kennedy, Josh, Nicole (husband Modesto), Jacob (wife Christine), Brittany, Chrissy (husband Jon), Zoe, Zach Genevieve; and her adored great-grandchildren: MJ, Ella, Easton, Luke, Hudson, and McKenzie.

Shirley often described her life as a “storybook,” and those who knew her would agree. She spent her early years in India, attending boarding school in the Himalayas, and carried a lifelong love for the country, its culture, and especially its food. Her teenage years in London sparked a second great affection—for all things British—which remained with her always.

At just 17 years old, Shirley met her first husband, Ron. Together they sailed to Canada, where they began their family and welcomed two daughters, Kellie and Tracy. Their life together included extensive travel and several years living in Africa, experiences that further shaped Shirley’s adventurous spirit and worldly perspective.

Many years later, Shirley met her second husband, Fred, and they moved to California, where she built a fulfilling personal and professional life.

Shirley’s career path was as rich and varied as her life story. She worked as a television makeup artist in Canada, owned a Merle Norman Cosmetics studio, served as a flight attendant with Air Canada, and worked as an Executive Secretary at Bourns. Ultimately, she found her calling as an esthetician, becoming a successful business owner in Riverside, California, where she was admired for her skill, professionalism, and warmth.

Shirley was known as Shirls, Mum, Nan, and Gigi, and she completed a life beautifully lived. She loved deeply, gave generously, and taught us what truly matters. Her legacy lives on in all of us who were lucky enough to love her. She was an extraordinary woman, and we were blessed to be her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She was the heart of our family—strong, kind, faithful, and full of love. Her wisdom, stories, and oftentimes goofy presence shaped who we are, and her love will stay with us forever. We are so grateful for every moment we shared.