Kern County CA Archives Obituaries.....(Torigiani) Durrett, Shirley Ann September 9, 2005 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ca/cafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: K T bluewolf@onemain.com September 11, 2005, 5:06 pm The Bakersfield Californian Durrett, Shirley Ann "Torigiani" 1936 - 2005 Shirley Ann (Torigiani) Durrett Jan. 6, 1936 - Sept. 9, 2005 Monsignor Michael Braun will conduct a Burial Mass on Monday, September 12, 2005 at Our Lady of Perpetual Help, 124 Columbus, at 10:30 am. Shirley was born on January 6, 1936 in Bakersfield, California, to Orlando and Margaret Torigiani. She graduated from Garces High School, UC Santa Barbara and obtained her Masters in Education from California Lutheran University. Shirley met the love of her life, Tom, in the fall of 1957 and they married on May 17, 1958. She lost Tom on May 21, 1999 and missed him every day, taking him flowers every Sunday before she attended Sunday Mass. Shirley was many things: a wonderful wife, a devoted daughter, a loving mother, a doting grandmother, a generous soul, and a committed educator. She began her teaching career right out of college at Casa Loma Elementary School and taught elementary school at College Heights, Harding, Golden State, Eissler and later became a principal at both Wayside and Colonel Nichols. As an educator, she was a highly respected teacher and principal in the Bakersfield City School District. She was admired for her positive attitude, her upbeat personality, her leadership skills, and her professionalism. Over the years, as her children would meet her former students, they would hear more often than not your mother was my favorite teacher. Upon retirement she took up golf and stayed busy playing bridge and spending time with her husband until he passed away. As a wife, she was devoted to her husband and enjoyed traveling with him, spending weekends at the cabin, and going out with their friends. They enjoyed forty-one happy years together. Once she lost Tom, she spent everyday with her family, devoting time to her parents, her children, and her grandchildren. She stopped by her parents house daily, making sure they had everything they needed, even making sure her father made all his skeet tournaments and watching him shoot and standing by with his oxygen. As a mother, she was devoted and enjoyed spending time with her family, whether it was at her home, at the family cabin, or anywhere else she could get all of them together. She taught her children the value of family through her actions, words, and good deeds. Her children nicknamed her Saint Shirley as she never let anything bother her and she was always kind to everyone. She spent endless hours with them playing cards, building jigsaw puzzles and playing board games. She instilled a love of learning in her children and the importance of education. As a grandmother, she adored her grandchildren, Brooke and John. She spoiled them with love and affection along with anything else she could think of. She passed on her love of cards, games, puzzles, education, and family to them as well. As a friend, she was steadfast and loyal. During her illness, her many friends were there to support her and she often commented on how fortunate she was to have so many friends she could count on. She loved to watch sports, especially the PGA tour, the San Francisco 49ers, and the San Francisco Giants. Her family lovingly called her Howard Cosell as she loved to talk about the sporting events as she watched them and wanted to make sure those around her enjoyed it as much as she did. She was also the master at putting together the football pools for the annual New Years Day party. She enjoyed watching Wheel of Fortune and The Price is Right, but her favorite pastime was playing bridge. Starting in college, she belonged to a bridge group of some sort. She taught her children to play so that she could always get up a foursome and she especially enjoyed playing bridge with her close girlfriends. She was also an avid reader and enjoyed spending time curled up with a good book. She was predeceased by her husband, Tom, and her father Orlando Torgiani. She is survived by her mother Margaret Torigiani, daughter Lou Ann Durrett, son Don Durrett, daughter and son-in-law Michele and Ted Waldron, grandchildren Brooke and John Waldron, sister Barbara Bivins and her husband Don, sister Eleanor Paulazzo and her partner Joe Lima, aunts Ella Banducci and Lillian Fallot, and her brother-in-law Gene Durrett and wife Marty, along with numerous family members. Pallbearers will be Cregg Bivins, Mark Bivins, Brad Bivins, Robert Banducci, Gary Banducci, Micahel Banducci, Perry Paulazzo, Doug Meeder, and Paul Monson. The family wishes to thank Dr. Ravi Patel, Dr. Mushtaq Ahmed, the staff at CBCC, and the nursing staff at 4W at Mercy Hospital Downtown for their kindness, compassion and excellent medical care. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to The American Cancer Society or a charity of your choice. Greenlawn Mortuary Funeral Directors Legacy.com Published in the Bakersfield Californian from 9/11/2005 - 9/12/2005. Additional Comments: Volunteer submission - No relation to deceased. Obituaries http://www.legacy.com/bakersfield/LegacyHome.asp File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ca/kern/obits/t/torigian36gob.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/cafiles/ File size: 5.7 Kb