Patricia Shirilla

Patricia J. Shirilla loved to be surrounded by her family, loved spending her time being a caring wife, devoted mother and proud grandmother to the people who brought her life joy.

The Great Depression brought many changes in the United States. With the combination of drought, windstorms and worldwide despondency, the government, on a large scale, socialized many programs to help the public during this time of despair. President Roosevelt brought on many programs to help ailing farmers, displaced workers and elderly. It was a turning point in history in what the people demanded and expected from their government. It was into these changing times that Anne Danko and Kendall Nixon welcomed their daughter, Patricia, on November 29, 1936, in Detroit, Michigan.

Patricia was dearly loved by her parents and although they divorced in 1945, Patricia maintained a close relationship with them both. Patricia also experienced the joys of being a big sister to brother Leslie. She stayed with her mother in her childhood home, in Warren, Michigan, until Anne married Jim Curtiss, and they then moved to another home in the area. Her father remained an active part of her life and they spent the weekends taking trips to Cass Lake or going to the movies, but most importantly, just spending time together. Patricia would stay in Warren, Michigan, throughout her formative years, attending grade school there and graduating from Fitzgerald High School in 1954.

In 1956, Patricia’s life was about to change. One evening, while attending a going away party with a few of her friends, for a young man who had been drafted, Patricia met Ken Shirilla, who happened to be there with another date. Ken was quite smitten with Patricia and, in fact, told his mother when he got home that she was the one he was going to marry. Although Ken had gotten her phone number at the party, others had showed their interest and got her number too. Ken was determined to win Patricia’s heart and after several months of fervent pursuit, he won her love and never looked back. In December of 1956 Ken gave Patricia an onyx promise ring. Before leaving for Army basic training in June of 1957, the couple became formally engaged. They were happily married on September 6, 1958.

Soon Patricia and Ken had two wonderful children, Kendall born on July 29, 1961, and Wendy born on May 7, 1964. Patricia left her job as office manager at Household Finance in order to devote herself to the role of a mother. As a wife and mother, she indulged in the opportunity to share her love. Whether it was a special gift that she put much thought and love into finding for your special day or holiday or the lavish holiday meals she prepared for her family. It is a huge heart that remembers to do the small things. In March of 1971, the family moved to Farmington Hills, where they shared many wonderful times together for the next thirty-three years. She held her marriage to her beloved husband and birth of her children and grandchildren as the greatest treasures in her life.

Besides caring for her family, Patricia also found time for work and leisure activities. She worked part-time at Berry Enterprises, an investment firm, for about nineteen years. When not working, she enjoyed shopping, from home on QVC but really loved to go spend time out of the house to find the perfect something for someone, and her daughter Wendy adoringly remarked that, “no one could keep up with her.” Another of her hobbies was decorating, which she took all tips and ideas from her favorite shows, Divine Design and Designing for the Sexes on HGTV. In a quiet moment, Patricia loved to be curled up with a good fiction novel from her favorite author, Barbara Taylor Bradford. A teenager of the 1950s, she loved the golden oldies, especially those with a strong backbeat. Some of her most favored indulgences included rich and sweet Hostess cherry pies, vanilla malts, Snicker bars but as a main course, lobster was one of her favorites. After Ken retired in 1996, they began traveling throughout the United States - from sea to shining sea; Patricia was proud to be an American. She always maintained that her favorite place to be was simply "wherever my friends and family are" because she truly knew how to enjoy, cherish and celebrate every moment that life had to offer.

Through the years, Patricia maintained a loving relationship with her family. She kept close to her father, who died in 1971, and devotedly named her son after him. During her mother’s illness, which eventually led to her death in 1993, Patricia faithfully visited her mother three times a week. When her son moved to Tampa, Florida, it gave her a good reason to travel twice a year, especially to see her two precious grandchildren, Claire and Douglas. She also cherished visiting her daughter and her four footed grand-dogs that she always brought bones and treats for. Her kindness and love was shown not only to family and close friends, but to everyone she knew. Most of them she had known for over thirty years and she always took the time to make a friendly phone call, share a meal together, or take a trip to go see those that were far away. Always thinking of others, Patricia was both blessed and a blessing to those she loved.

Patricia tried to maintain a healthy lifestyle by always drinking filtered water and looking to holistic medicines for healing power. Despite being health conscious, in 2002, Patricia discovered a lump on the base of her neck, which was removed, biopsied and found to be in advanced stages of cancer. With great optimism, she endured several operations and chemotherapy, and never once complained or wanted to put anyone out. She was a strong fighter and always had a good outlook, but sadly lost her battle with cancer on Thursday, August 26, 2004.

She was the beloved wife of Ken Shirilla; loving mother of Kendall (Dale Ann) Shirilla and Wendy (Todd) Hedstrom; grandmother of Claire and Douglas Shirilla; and Aunt of Jeff Nixon. Visitation will be held on Monday, August 30, from 2-9 p.m. at McCabe Funeral Home, 31950 West 12 Mile Road, Farmington Hills. Service will be at the funeral home on Tuesday, August 31, at 11:00 a.m. Please visit Patricia’s memory page at www.lifestorynet.com where you can read her life story, share a memory, order flowers or make a memorial contribution to the Hospice of Michigan.