Shirley Berka

Shirley was born in Janesville, Wisconsin in 1931. She died on June 22 as a result of Parkinson's Disease. Shirley attended junior and senior high school (Redford) in Detroit, graduating in 1949. Shirley also graduated from Highland Park Junior College as well as secretarial school in Detroit. She met her husband of 59 years while employed as a secretary at General Electric in Detroit. The couple have two children, Jack W. Berka, Woodland Hills, CA and Nancy Miller, Fallston, MD. and five grandchildren.

Shirley described herself as a "domestic engineer". She was that and more. She was a gourmet cook always looking for new recipes. She was a wonderful seamstress. Shirley could make anything with a sewing machine – if she didn't have a pattern she would make one of her own. She made clothes for her children, slip covers for her furniture, and she taught her grandchildren how to sew.

Shirley was active throughout her adult life in hospital volunteer work. She worked as a volunteer for over 20 years at the LaHabra, Ca. community hospital. She worked for over 10 years as a volunteer at Upper Chesapeake Hospital in Bel Air until illness forced her to resign.
Shirley loved the arts, especially music, painting and ballet. She and her husband were "symphony goers" for many years, listening to the Los Angeles Philharmonic and the BSO at the Meyerhoff. She was also an avid reader.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the American Parkinson Disease Association, 135 Parkinson Avenue, Staten Island, NY 10305.