Shirley Nowak

Shirley Ann Snell Nowak, 88, died in Yuba City, CA on June 15, 2019.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10: 30 a.m. on Saturday, June 22, 2019, at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Greeley. Father Antony Thekkekara will officiate. Burial will be in the Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery. Visitation will be prior to the funeral on Saturday with a Rosary at 10:00 a.m. at the church.

Shirley was born February 21, 1931, in Greeley, Nebraska, the last of 12 children to Michael and Ruby (Owen) Snell. She was baptized and married in Sacred Heart Church. She was a proud graduate of Sacred Heart High School, Greeley, in 1949. Nothing could be finer than to be a '49er.

She was married by a young Father Jacob Bauer to Thomas J.  Nowak in Greeley on June 2, 1951. They had six children: Thomas Jr., Mary Dolores, Leo, Paul, Susan and Joanne. Baby Mary Dolores, born premature, lived less than a day.

After the first four children were born, Tom and Shirley moved to Fortuna, CA, and lived there until the death of Thomas in 2004. Shirley then lived for 10 years in Glendale, AZ and then just short of five years in Yuba City, CA.  Though she hated being a "burden" on her children -- which she never was -- macular degeneration and other issues made her less than independent.

Shirley went to college after her children were almost all grown and became a Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN) and for worked many years at hospitals in Humboldt County, CA. Shirley was extremely intelligent, well-read and informed, though she would be the last to say so.

Her interests included watching Giants baseball, recycling before it was at all widespread, reading, and general home improvement.

Shirley and Tom were lifelong Catholics. She was very active in church her entire life and her deep faith in Jesus was an inspiration.

Shirley and Thomas were regular visitors to Greeley and loved the town and the people with all their hearts. They retained their Midwest values and continued to be Cornhusker fans.

She had fond memories of Greeley, which she shared aloud when her daughter would read "Peeking Into the Past" to her. She remembered when aviator Evelyn Sharpe landed an airplane in Greeley and school children got to run to see the young pilot. She was able to share story after story about Greeleyites.

Later in life, Shirley was able to visit Greeley more regularly and enjoyed the company of many, especially Lorraine Bjorkland, Mary Hashke and Marcella Thompson, whom she felt went out of their way to include her in their outings. She enjoyed the Jack Nowak clan, who remained in Nebraska and especially admired niece Ann Nowak, for reasons too numerous to list.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Michael and Ruby; husband, Thomas; and a daughter, Mary Dolores.

She outlived all her siblings, including John, Paul, Mary (Noble), Helen (McGreevy), Walter, Gladys (Karre), Owen, Harley, Jean, Leo, and Sheila (Murphy-later Dana). Her parents nor her siblings lived to age 88, and Shirley did not want that achievement, but God had other plans.

She is survived by her children, Tom (Pamela), Leo (Charleen), Paul (Kelley), Susan (Bruce),and Joanne (Gene); her sister in law, Maureen (widow of Leo); numerous nieces and nephews; and grandchildren, Genevieve Sisco, James Worthington, Lee Stamper and Annie Rose Nowak; great grandchildren, Adian, Michael, Holden and Victoria Sisco, and Emily and Thomas Worthingon.

It is hard to believe that anyone ever loved Greeley more than she, though there are many who are proud to call this home.