Obituary of Shirley F. Sheriff

Shirley Fein Sheriff ,97 died peacefully on Tuesday, April 28, 2015 at the Daughters Of Sarah nursing center with her daughter Robin by her side. Shirley was born at home on December 14, 1917 in Riverdale, New York. She was one of eight children and had many stories of her adventures in Manhattan as a young woman before World War II. She was educated in New York City and graduated from Hunter College in 1938. During World War II she joined the American Red Cross and served in Germany rehabilitating the American soldiers who had been released as prisoners of war. She actually attended a day at the Nuremberg war trial proceedings. Two years ago at the age of 95 Shirley was awarded the American Red Cross Legacy award. She was the first woman to receive this award in New York State. Her special video can be viewed at the following website https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EfG3BmND_ec Shirley was a well educated woman who took a great interest in world affairs, and the lives and events of her family and friends. She was open minded and embraced the social changes of the last decade. A daily copy of the New York Times and the New Yorker could always be found in her room. On her 95th birthday her only request was an iPad which she quickly mastered and was a daily communicator. Shirley was an advocate for health and wellness, a health education teacher, a yoga instructor and taught wellness classes at the Beltrone Living Center when she was in her 80s. In order to achieve maximum wellness she said you had to have "a balance of body, mind, and spirit”, and Shirley lived a life that exemplified what she truly believed and she passed that on to everyone she knew! Shirley was an active member of Temple Berith Shalom in Troy NY. Shirley was married to Joseph Sheriff until his passing in 1983. She is survived by her children Stephen (Patti) of Raleigh, North Carolina, Ellen (Ray) Desrosiers of Bethlehem, North Carolina and Robin (Dominic) Lombardo of Latham, New York. She is also survived by her grandchildren, Amy Collins, Chris Crookham, Ali Davis, Michelle and Ian Desrosiers, David, Mark, and Michael Lombardo. Services at the Levine Memorial Chapel 649 Washington Ave., Albany, NY on Friday, May 1, 2015 at 4pm. Friends are relatives and invited and may call at the chapel on Friday commencing at 3pm Those wishing to remember Shirley in a special way may make a memorial contribution to the American Red Cross, 33 Everett Road # 3, Albany, NY 12205.. Interment will be held on Sunday, May 3, 2015 at the Beth El Cemetery in Washington Township, New Jersey at 11:00am