Shirley Jean Peila

named Shirley Jean. She was named after Shirley Temple, who was a big child star at the time, but was known as “Baby".

As a small child she developed a mastoid ear infection and had to be operated on. This was at the beginning of the great

depression, health insurance was not available then, so they had to sell the house they built in order to pay for the operation.

There were many moves that followed that, when they lived on the corner of Maple and Hamilton. It was there that she and

brother Charles climbed the fence to go to Jefferson Elementary School.

She loved playing jacks (even as an adult) and taught her children how to play. She also loved hopscotch and jump rope, many

other fun games. As a child Shirley had many friends, she had a heart for children who were bullied or disabled. She had a little

girlfriend who was a neighbor who had polio and unable to play with other children. Shirley would spend countless hours at her

home playing paper dolls and other games. She also felt a kinship with students that were deaf, since she had mild hearing loss as

a child.

Shirley loved her time spent at summer camp at “Mar Casa” at balboa island. This was a christian girls camp held in a huge

house by the water.

Shirley enjoyed participating in the drama productions put on by the recreation dept. at the Civic Auditorium downtown and at

her schools. Her mother started her in dance at a young age and that carried through into her theater performances in junior high,

high school and college. In one of the productions she played Mickey mouse. hence her nick name Mickey. Which some of her

friends still call her to this day.

For her Jr. High School years she attended Marshall. (7th - 10th grade), then to Pasadena City College (last two years of HS and

first two years of college), where she got her AA degree in Nursery School Teaching.

During these years she enjoyed roller skating at the Moonlight Roller Rink in Pasadena. (the local hangout for teens), she also

performed in skate dance shows. At PCC she was part of the drama department and drama club, she also belonged to a group

who called themselves “The Dinahmiters”, Dinah Shore fans. She was always excited that Dinah Shore came and spoke to the

group. She enjoyed going to the beach a lot. Her grandparents celebrated their 54th anniversary by attending the Bride and

Groom radio broadcast. Shirley and her cousin Barbara accompanied them to the broadcast.

Every new years eve the family hosted a tamale pie supper at Midnight. Then everyone went down to Colorado St. to spend the

night partying awaiting the Tournament of Roses parade.

While at PCC she met and dated Dan Fillhart where they were both members of the drama club.

She and Dan were married in 1953 and had a sweet baby girl, Pamela Sue, born June 28, 1954. Unfortunately the marriage did

not last. She then went to work for Ryerson Steel Placing co. She then met and married Jim Madison and had a beautiful boy

James “Jamie” Charles born May 8, 1958. Unfortunately they also divorced. Shirley, Pamela and Jamie moved in with her

parents.

In 1960 she was at a dance club with a friend and met the man she would soon marry. Even though he was a handsome young

Italian man, she liked him for his car a 1957 turquoise Chevy Bel Aire. Him being a good dancer helped also. His

name is Andy Peila. They went on their 1st date the weekend after they met and never looked back. Only 6 months later on

Christmas Eve, he came and dropped a big box on her stomach. She went through several boxes until she got to the small one

with a ring in it. 7 months later on July 29, 1961 they were married and bought a house in Alhambra. While on their honeymoon

in Las Vegas their relatives and friends moved them in. In 1963 Andy adopted Shirley’s 2 children and gave them the name of

Peila and raised them as his own. On May 27, 1963 they welcomed their 3rd child Christopher “Chip” Andrew. 3 years after on

August 16, 1966 they welcomed Elizabeth “Betsy” Marie and on September 15,1968 (3 years to early) they welcomed Amy

Kathryn.

During this time she was a Cub Scout leader for her 2 sons, a Blue Bird Assistant leader for Pam and a Girl Scout leader for

Betsy. She was President of the Jr. Women’s Club in Alhambra. Not only did she take care of her 5 children, but took on several

of the neighbors children. She was an excellent seamstress and made most of our clothes. Finally in 1968 she felt enough was

enough and got her drivers license. With this new freedom she ferried Pam’s Up With People group and equipment all around

town. She would also love to take all the children and their friends to the beach.

In 1973 her husband was offered a job at UCSD and eventually he became Electrical Plant Superintendent. They moved their 5

children, 2 dogs and a duck down to Carlsbad. Carlsbad was surrounded by beaches and agricultural fields.

She was an at home mom, who loved to have her children and all their friends around. She loved summer, and hated when school

started. She was firm, but loving and you always knew where you stood with her. She let us slide down the coffee table, make

forts in our rooms and play outside til the sun went down. She did discipline too, she had a paddle that had a crack in it from

Chip, so later on Chip hid it in the rafters of the garage never to be seen again.

During our childhood she worked in the fields at the end of our street and packed tomatoes and Zucchini for her dear friends

Reuben and Lilia Torres. We had so much zucchini that she became the Queen of Zucchini, if you could make it with zucchini

she would! She also worked at McDonalds for awhile.

She loved quilting and made numerous baby quilts for her grandchildren and for children of friends. She made wedding quilts for

family and friends and quilts for all her children. She also made quilts for her ‘Secret Sisters” in Mom’s Day Out. She was so

excited when she and Andy went to Amish Country in Pennsylvania. She was in awe and inspired to see all the handmade quilts.

She also had a huge heart for animals. It was almost a mini farm at our house. We had several dogs, puppies, cats, rabbits, ducks,

birds and even turtles.

We are not quite sure of the exact date, but sometime between 1978 - 1980 she gave her life to her Lord Jesus. She had always

loved God, but made the decision to dedicate her life to Him and serving His little children. She was a devoted Sunday school

teacher and in 1989, along with 3 others, began the Mom’s Day Out Preschool Program with 10 children. She was able to see

Mom’s Day Out blossom to over 150 children within a few years. Teaching was truly her gift. On August 24, 1995 she was

baptized by her son Jim, at the beach in Oceanside.

Not only was she a devoted mother but a devoted grandmother to Amy, Anna, Preston, Marina, Ranger, Tosh, Justis and Maddy.

She was known to them as “Happy Ahma”. She also has 3 great grandchildren Scarlett, Taylor and Eli.

Shirley was a dedicated wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, teacher and friend to many. Shirley “Mom” will be

missed greatly and never forgotten. We love you Mom.