Shirley, who has a rich life story and a deep care for others, was widowed a year and a half ago. She continues to cherish the memory of her husband, Dennis, with whom she shared five children and provided respite foster care to families. This work deepened her conviction in the power of attention, stability, and kindness to help children heal and grow.
Shirley worked as a family coordinator, collaborating with multiple teams to support families and older adults. She loved bringing people together to ensure no one fell through the cracks—a value she still holds today.
After Dennis passed, a basement flood left her home in disarray. Although no mold remains, with limited support, she has been waiting over a year for help to restore order. She describes her living space as “extremely cluttered. It’s hard to find a place to sit or a clear surface for groceries.” This has been especially difficult for Shirley, who has always taken pride in being organized. She feels vulnerable inviting someone new into her home but is hopeful that the right person will look beyond the clutter to connect with her story and the treasure trove of experiences she offers. These include helping her grandfather run a family bowling alley in Duluth and crafting her own garden oasis filled with flowers, vines, and trees. A self-taught master gardener, Shirley also excels at sewing, knitting, and carpentry.
She’d love to share time over lemonade on her deck, explore local yard sales, catch a movie, or have dinner out. She doesn’t have pets but would enjoy the company of a therapy dog. Shirley smokes up to half a pack of cigarettes a day and is open to being asked not to smoke in someone’s company.
