On April 25, 2019, after a sudden brief illness, Shirley Diane Collins Shelton, age 75, of Pittsgrove, much loved daughter, mother, grandmother, sister and aunt, went home to be with the Lord. Shirley was born April 21, 1944 to Mabel and Robert Collins in Penns Grove, NJ You can’t talk about Shirley without first mentioning her boundless generosity. She would, in the most literal sense of the phrase, give you the shirt off her back. Or the shoes off her feet, if you happened to compliment the ones she was wearing. She did both, on many occasions. She did not have money, but she had a knack of being able to amass clothes, shoes, housewares, anything that someone in need might be able to use, and she kept it all in her car. She drove around in what can only be described as a magical vehicle – there was no end to the surprising things she could pull out of it. New sneakers still in the box and just your size, a full length, silk-lined coat with a fur collar that had belonged to an opera singer, a bushel of peaches or a case of toilet paper: it was a lot like watching Let’s Make a Deal, only bigger and better. She had the selfless soul of a care-giver, and she spent much of her life looking after family members and friends, some of whom could not care for themselves. Her patience and tenderness with children, the elderly and the ill was without limit. The next thing to be said about her is that she was utterly without a sense of time. If she said that she was running into the IGA for minute, it was entirely possible that she would emerge after an hour. Or two. If you wanted Shirley to be somewhere at 2 pm, you told her you wanted her there at noon, just to make sure she’d be there on time…more or less. She was the perennial provider of dinner rolls or dessert for family holiday dinners, something that could be had at the end of meal, when she would inevitably arrive, smiling, singing out, “Here I am, you lucky people.” On a side note, from the time she picked up her plate to fill it to the time she finally finished eating that meal, two to three hours could elapse. She liked a leisurely meal. It would also have to be mentioned that for a very private person – and she was – Shirley could and did talk to everyone. She knew no strangers and was apt to strike up long and meaningful conversations with fellow shoppers or diners or just passersby. It was her nature, however, that at the end of the conversation, she knew all about you and you knew very little about her. Once she met you, she did not forget you. Her list of friends and acquaintances was endless. It did not matter where you went – in the middle of nowhere you were not in the least surprised when she would greet someone she had not seen in years, by name, and ask about something she recalled from the last time they’d talked. Not for nothing, she had a wicked sense of humor but could not tell a joke. She would tell the punchline first, or forget it altogether or add 10 minutes worth of detail. The mistelling of the joke was usually funnier than the actual joke itself. This trait was inherited by at least one niece. What was inherited by no one was her unfathomable fondness for liver and onions, which she would cook with reckless abandoned for many in her charge. The last thing about Shirley is the biggest thing about Shirley: her love for her family and her devotion to them. Shirley had 3 sons whom she adored – Stevie, (lost in an accident when he was a toddler,) Andy, and Jeff, both of whom are fine men. However, when Jeff married Kelly (Barba) and they had Patricia, her only grandchild, Shirley found the apple of her eye. She loved to tell stories about Patricia and always had a recent picture of her at the ready. She was the much loved and cherished sister of Helen (and Milton) Clark, John (and Kathy) Collins, and Roberta Carman. She was the long-time companion of Bob May, who will miss her more than he can say. She will be remembered by her nieces and nephews and great-nieces and nephews, for her complete willingness to give them her time and attention, both of which she lavished on them. It was not at all unusual for her to pull up in her big, old car and pile them all in for a trip to the lake, the movies, for ice cream, popping in to take them to lunch or the mall. She could make a child feel like the most important and special child in the world, which is why every one of them could tell you, truthfully, “I’m her favorite.” Rest now and finally be at peace, dear Shirley, old soul, kind spirit, you old tomato sweetie. You were much loved on this earth. To have touched and made a difference in so many lives, you will never truly be gone. Predeceased by her parents, Robert Collins and Mabel Ford Collins and brother-in-law Howard (Doc) Carman. Nieces and nephews: Lisa Clark, Robert (and Jessica) Clark, Gary (and Valerie) Clark, Rebecca Clark (and Mike) Ireland, Donica Carman (and Rob) Maher, Desiree Carman Wright (and Buddy,) Rob and Jay Collins Great nieces and nephews – Rob (and Sarah) Clark, Ryan Clark, Josiah (and Erin) Clark, Micah, Hannah, and Alethea Clark, Mikey (and Sami) Ireland, Katie and Noah Ireland, Jordan and Jadan Wright. Other friends, family and acquaintances far too numerous to mention. Graveside services will be held at Chestnut Grove Cemetery on Wednesday, May 1, 2019 at 11:00 AM. In lieu of flowers, contributions in the name of Shirley Shelton can be made to Our Lady of Lourdes Medical Center in Camden, NJ or to a charity of your choice. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Shirley Collins Shelton please visit our Sympathy Store.
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Shirley Collins Shelton April 25 2019.
Death notice for the town of: Woodstown, state: New Jersey