Shirley June Albers

Shirley J. Albers, a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother who had a gift for making everyone she met feel special, peacefully entered her heavenly home on May 6, 2026. She was 95 years old, about a month shy of her 96th birthday.

She wanted to be remembered for her “love of the Lord Jesus Christ, the way I projected my life showing that He was within me, and that I had a sense of humor.”

Shirley was born on June 9, 1930, the daughter of Anthony and Marion (Jaburek) Danadio, in Chicago. A gifted student and athlete (playing volleyball, basketball, field hockey, and tennis), she graduated from Hirsch High School in 1947. A few months later, she began a 35-year career in the banking industry, rising from bookkeeper to vice president/cashier. She was one of the first female bank officers in Chicago.

“One thing I’m very proud of is I helped break the ceiling” for women in the Chicago banking industry, she said. Shirley was the first woman to attend the University of Wisconsin Graduate School of Banking. She was often a speaker at bankers’ meetings.

Shirley was even more proud of her daughter, Cindy, born in 1959, whom she raised as a single mother after a divorce. She loved her grandchildren, Olivia and Kenton, twins born in 1991. A few weeks before she died, Shirley met her great-grandson, Hudson. She was praying for and awaiting her second great-grandson, who is due to be born in June.

Shirley married Russell Albers, who was a national bank examiner, in 1975. They retired, built a new home, and moved to Estes Park in 1985.

Shirley and Russ loved to travel and enjoyed ocean and river cruises with trips to Europe, the Caribbean, Central America, and the Middle East. They also traveled across the United States, including extended vacations in Florida, Alaska, and Hawaii. They enjoyed spending time with Cindy and her husband, Don, as well as attending Olivia and Kenton’s school and athletic events.

Shirley and Russ were active members of the Presbyterian Community Church of the Rockies. She taught Sunday School, was the head of the Christian Education Committee, helped organize and taught Vacation Bible School, helped get the church’s Columbarium established, and was one of the founding members of the church’s bell choir.

In more recent years, Shirley also attended the bi-weekly Estes Park Fellowship and weekly Bible study class led by the Rev. Bill Huth.

Shirley was a member of PEO Chapter AV, a long-time participant in the Ladies Golf League at the Estes Park Golf Course, and treasurer of the Charles Heights Homeowners Association for 18 years.

She was an excellent cook. Shirley and Russ often hosted friends for dinners and picnics. She also loved to sew and paint.

Shirley is survived by her daughter, Cindy, and son-in-law, Don Cooper of Temple, Texas; granddaughter, Olivia, and her husband, Ben Schneider of Minneapolis; and grandson, Kenton, his wife, Jessi, and great-grandson, Hudson Cooper of Belding, Michigan.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Russ Albers; her parents, Anthony and Marion Danadio; and her sister, Virginia, and brother-in-law, Max Bolander.

Shirley’s family appreciates the care she received at Stoney Brook Assisted Living in Belton, Texas, where she participated in Bible study and other activities, and endeared herself to the staff and new friends.

Cremation rites will be accorded, and inurnment will be in the Presbyterian Community Church of the Rockies Columbarium. A memorial service will be held on September 26, 2026, 10:00 am at Presbyterian Community Church of the Rockies.

Suggested memorials are to the Presbyterian Community Church of the Rockies, 1700 Brodie Ave, Estes Park, CO 80517, or to Ravencrest Bible School, P.O. Box 2620, Estes Park, CO 80517.

Arrangements are by Allnutt Funeral Services, Estes Park, and Scanio-Harper Funeral Home, Temple, Texas.