Shirley J. Burdick

Caledonia - Shirley J. Burdick (AKA: Mom, Grandma, Shorty, Sparky, Sarge, Jumbo Shrimp, The Queen,Grandma Smurf and Miss Daisy) peacefully joined her family and friends in God's Kingdom on August 16, 2023, just 11 days short of her 92nd birthday.

Shirley is predeceased by her son, Scott; granddaughter Audrey Jo; daughter-in-law, Jane; grandson, Austin; and her six siblings, Orma, Harriet, Helen, Alfred, Katherine and Louis Sr.

She is survived by her children, Todd and Julie (Virginia); Lynn (New York); daughter-in-law and son-in-law Amy and Steve (Arkansas), Grandchildren, Tyler and Ali (Virginia), Johnston and Courtney (Arkansas) Leigh (Missouri), Emma (Arkansas), most adored great grandson, Emmett (Arkansas); nephew, Louis Jr. and Shawn (Caledonia/Florida); great niece, Becky and Mark, and several great nieces and nephews. Also, her granddog, Paddy and grandhorse, Moxie.

Shirley graduated from Rochester Business Institute in 1949, where she had received a $100 scholarship, and after graduating she was employed by Union Steel Chest until becoming a stay at home mother in 1959. She earned her real estate license and worked for Town Crier Real Estate for several years and enjoyed working with her clients. Later on in her working career, she was employed by Alpine Manor as their cook, where she was best known and loved by the residents for her baking powder biscuits and molasses cookies. Her last employment was with Sabin Metal, where she worked until her retirement in 1997. During this time she also cared for her father, her brother and an elderly friend, taking them meals and keeping up their homes.
Shirley was an active member of the United Presbyterian Stone Church for many years, where she was baptized in 1942. She later moved her membership to the First United Presbyterian Church of Mumford and then to the First Presbyterian Church of Caledonia. She was proud of having cooked in the kitchens of all three Presbyterian churches. At Stone Church she was best known for chairing the annual Election Day Chicken & Biscuit Dinner; at the Mumford church she cooked with the young people who fondly knew her as Mama Burdick; and at First Church she was part of the original planning committee of the Wednesday Night Supper ministry. She served her amazing meatloaf at the inaugural WNS on February 14th, 2008, in the midst of a blizzard.

Shirley was a vital member of the Cal-Mum Council of Churches Rubber Ducky Derby Committee, and also volunteered with Livingston County Habitat for Humanity working on their fundraising auctions.
Shirley loved cooking for family and friends, only running out of mashed potatoes once. She especially enjoyed baking and loved teaching her granddaughter Leigh at age 4 and special friend Kenny at age 10 how to bake pies. It filled her with joy knowing that they are both still baking pies.
She enjoyed going out to dinner with friends, especially at the Caledonia Village Inn, working in her garden, playing euchre with her friends, and sharing stories of her life. Shirley loved life and lived it to its fullest.
Most of all, Shirley loved spending time with her family, whether at home in Caledonia, in Virginia or Arkansas. She will be forever loved and cherished as the matriarch of the Burdick Family.

The family is especially grateful to all of Shirley's friends who stayed with her over the past three years, helping with her care and making it possible for her to remain in her home - Amy Burt, Sharleen Carnes, Janet Flynn, Louise Haskins, Bonnie Johnson, Joan Mitchell, Tony and Brenda Montalbano, Karen Murray, and Lynda Pursel. Special thanks to Shirley's in-home hospice team - Brandi, Anna and Serena - for their wonderful care of Shirley and compassionate support of her family.

Shirley's Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, August 26th at 11AM, at the First Presbyterian Church of Caledonia, 3080 Main Street, Caledonia, 14423. Private Interment Mumford Rural Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Livingston County Hospice, 2 Murray Hill Drive, Mt. Morris, New York 14510.