Obituary of Shirley A Standard

Shirley Anita Standard was born on September 2nd, 1926 to Byron and Winifred Standard who were immigrants from Barbados, British West Indies. Shirley grew up in Brooklyn, New York. She grew up with two younger brothers Byron and Kenneth and two older sisters Phyllis and Muriel. Shirley was always thirsty for knowledge and had a deep love of learning. Shirley had a passion for the French language and for writing poetry. She won many awards in French throughout Elementary and Secondary school. She truly was one of the smartest people that her daughter Elizabeth knew. She continued to write poetry up until last year. She attended PS 15 located in downtown Brooklyn New York. She had one of the highest averages in her 8th grade class. She graduated from Girls High School in Brooklyn New York in1943 at the age of 16. She was Salutatorian of her high school graduation class. After Girls High School, Shirley matriculated at Brooklyn College and graduated in 1948. She took a year off to work. After working a factory job, she decided that she needed to go back to college and finish her degree. Shirley graduated with a degree in Education and took a job teaching Elementary school for the NYC public school system for many years. In 1961, she pursued a new experience. She traveled to Rock Springs, Wyoming to teach 2nd Grade at a local Catholic school. Unfortunately during her trip home to New York for Christmas break she had a massive stroke and was given last rites by a priest in Iowa. Shirley was always admired for her strength to recover from a stroke and to go onto having her daughter, Elizabeth, her pride and joy, two years later. Shirley was a devoted mother and wonderful confidante and, most importantly, a friend. She gave unconditional love to Elizabeth as a daughter, who is so thankful for that unquestionable love and support! Shirley had a great sense of humor. Her wit and humor were the hit of all of our family holiday dinners and gatherings! She always brought a smile to everyone in her company. Two (2) of her proudest moments were when her daughter, Elizabeth, graduated from Yale University and when she married her husband Herman Martin of 29 years. She was also delighted when she became a grandmother twice. She is survived by her daughter Elizabeth, son-in-law Herman, her grandchildren Christopher and Catherine, her brothers Byron and Kenneth and her sister –in-law Elizabeth. Shirley also was blessed with a large extended family, with multiple nieces and nephews. She was a person of great faith and converted to Catholicism in the 1950s. She was so blessed to live 90 years and to have departed this world peacefully on Tuesday morning of April 11, 2017. We love you!