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Sister Shirley Marie Mallory, SNJM
Sister Justyn Mary
June 12, 1925 – December 6, 2015
Sister Shirley Mallory, SNJM departed this life on December 6, 2015, in Spokane, Washington.
Sister Shirley celebrated 90 years of life and 67 years of religious profession.
She was an alum of Fort Wright College, Spokane, WA, ’51.
Sister Shirley Mallory, SNJM
June 12, 1925 – December 6, 2015
Shirley Mallory was born June 12, 1925, in Omak Washington, the fourth child of William J. and Mary Fitzgerald Mallory. When she was five years of age, her father and sister, Yvonne, died in an explosion in their home in Omak. Her mother moved with three young children, Bill, Janet and Shirley, to Mansfield, Washington where she studied to qualify for Postmastership, and where Shirley began her formal education, graduating from secondary school there in 1943.
Shirley was able to attend Holy Names College in Spokane after graduation, joined the Sisters of the Holy Names in 1945, and continued her studies for a B.A. in Education at Holy Names and Marylhurst Colleges. She later earned an M.A. for Teachers in Art.
Shirley pronounced her vows as Sister Justyn Mary in 1947. Sister began her teaching career in 1947 with the third and fourth graders at Star of the Sea, Astoria, continuing to minister at grade schools in Seattle, Spokane, Salem, Portland, The Dalles and Medford until 1967. From 1969-1972, Shirley taught art at Fort Wright College of the Holy Names. From then, her journey included involvement in the Catholic Charismatic Renewal, medical leave and personal renewal.
In 1987, Shirley discovered the soul of a Pastoral Minister within herself. She began visiting prisoners and then worked as Pastoral Associate at Holy Family in Auburn from 1993 to 1997, and in Healing Ministry from 1997 to 2004, when failing health forced retirement. Being a Pastoral Associate called forth Shirley’s most lovely and strongest gifts: she led prayer groups, communion services, participated in neighborhood Walkabouts, and Talkabouts at the Hospitality Kitchen. She had an amazing ability to listen to people’s stories, to evoke them, to revisit them. She was particularly drawn to children, to anyone facing challenges in their lives, and to animals. As her stories reveal, she was able to use her pastoral and artistic gifts in every relationship. She had an eye and a heart for beauty in all its forms! Shirley’s deepest longing was to know the love of God and to share that love with God’s people.
After moving to the retirement community of her religious congregation, she discovered new life through weekly meetings with her prayer companions in True Life in God. She was also an avid reader of spiritual books and magazines, noting passages that especially touched her.
Shirley is survived by her sister, K. Janet Kinzel; nieces and nephews, grand-nieces and nephews; and her religious community. The Sisters of the Holy Names are grateful to Brookdale South Regal, Senior Helpers and Hospice of Spokane and our own Partners in Ministry for their loving care of Shirley.
Mass of Christian Burial will be at 1 PM, on Tuesday, December 15, 2015, at Convent of the Holy Names.
Memorial gifts may be made to Sisters of the Holy Names Retirement Fund, PO Box 398, Marylhurst, OR, 97036, or online at www.snjmusontario.org/donate.