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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Obituary: Beaulieu, Shirley Joan

Age 79

BEAULIEU, Shirley Joan Passed away Sunday, April 29, 2013 in Spokane, WA from complications due to Parkinson’s disease.

Shirley began her journey 79 years ago being born on July 21, 1933 in Spokane, WA to Josephine and Henry Beaulieu.

She was one of sixteen children blessed to the Beaulieu family over a span of twenty-four years.

Shirley attended grade school at Sacred Heart School in Spokane and after graduation; she remained at the homestead with her parents and some of her other siblings.

She would later go on to work at Mount St. Josephs and Goodwill Industries in Spokane.

In the summer of 1959, Shirley became engaged to Joe Sleeve and was very excited, as any 26-year-old girl would be, about getting married and spending all her time with the love of her life.

One Sunday afternoon, Shirley and Joe had planned to go on an afternoon picnic when she learned earlier that morning that Joe had been involved in a tragic accident and had passed away at the hospital.

She would remain unmarried and continue to stay at the house to help her oldest sister Hazel care for their parents and the newest addition to the Beaulieu family, as a close cousin had asked their family to take in a newborn baby boy, Chuck Moore, whose mother had died just weeks after his birth.

In between changing of those cloth diapers, Shirley loved watching Bonanza, Little House on the Prairie, gardening and took great pride in displaying her homegrown flower arrangements.

She spent the last part of her life journey at Canterbury Court, Emily Court and St. Joseph’s Care Center, as the family would like to thank all the NICU staff at Sacred Heart Hospital for the loving care they gave to Shirley in her last days here.

She is preceded in death by her parents Josephine and Henry Beaulieu along with brothers, Ed, Art, Dan, Ralph, Frank, Henry, Al, and Bobby and her sisters Hazel Beaulieu, Loy McGrath, Jean Beaulieu, Marian McDirmid, Margaret Beaulieu (Sr. Dolereen), Ann Sylvester and Eileen King.

Shirley is survived by numerous nieces and nephews and the family of Chuck and Vicky Moore.

A Funeral Mass will be held at St. John Vianney Catholic Church (503 N. Walnut Rd., Spokane Valley) on Monday, May 06, 2013 at 10 am with interment to follow at Holy Cross Cemetery.

Donations in lieu of flowers can be made to the Sisters of Providence, 9 E. 9th.

Ave., Spokane, WA 99202.

Please visit Shirley’s online tribute at www.hennesseyfuneralhomes.com, and leave a message of remembrance.

Arrangements have been entrusted to: