Shirley Mae Perkins

Shirley Mae Perkins was born on February 6, 1926 in Orange, California where she lived her entire life.  She went  home  to be with Jesus,  surrounded by her family,  on January 22, 2021.  She is survived by her daughters, Vicky Smith (son-in-law Blair Smith), Kathie Perkins, Rena Schlueter (son-in-law Glen Schlueter), 9 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren and 1 great-great grandchild.  She was pre-deceased by her husband Robert L. Perkins and son Leonard Perkins.  She was a lifelong member of Immanuel Lutheran Church and a proud graduate of Orange High School Class of 1943.  In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to Immanuel Lutheran Church Music Ministry, 802 E. Chapman Ave., Orange CA 92866 or the Orange Historical Society, 407 E. Chapman Ave., Orange CA 92866.

Our mother loved fairy tales and writing little children's stories. Hans Christian Anderson said "Every man's life is a fairy tale written by God's fingers. A human life is a story told by God."

Our mother's prayer life in her senior years was her devotion to the Rosary and the Blessed Mother. Because the Rosary and her "Marythons" (26 rosaries) she said for special intentions were central in her life we decided to honor our mother with her life told in the mysteries of the Rosary.

The mysterious are not in sequential order here in her story.

The Sorrowful Mysteries we used here today at her funeral. The sorrowful times in her life started very early when her mother died when she was nine months old. That was followed by her beloved father's death when she was 15. She was grieving, sick and placed in a county run tuberculosis hospital where she was scared and alone praying for a safe harbor. Her adult life had two marriages that ended in divorce & the sorrowful aftermath that divorce carries. Then the worst of all sorrows being a mother and losing a child. The last greatest sorrow in her life the death of her daughter Lisa, our beloved sister.

The Luminous Mysteries are the bridge between the Joyful and the sorrowful Mysteries.

The Luminous Part of our mother's life is her love of God and being a Catholic. Her faith and devotion to being a Catholic was the light that guided her.  Her faith and devotion to being a Catholic is evident in raising her 5 daughters in the Catholic faith and sending them to Catholic school. To this day and great joy to my mother all of her daughters have stayed true to their Catholic upbringing. Our mother's strong influence in our early was raising us Catholic.

The Joyful Mysteries are the legacy of our mother's life. Our mother had 5 daughters, 10 grandchildren, 6 grandsons, 4 granddaughters and one great granddaughters.  These were the blessings that God brought into her life. She was loved by all and found great joy in various ways thru her children, grandchildren and great granddaughter.

Now the Glorious Mysteries relating to our mother's life...A faith filled life's reward after death is heaven. Our mother liked to say not passing on but "passed up", which means the ultimate of of all joy going to heaven. This can be summed up in some of the lines from the song “I Can Only Imagine.”

I can only imagine what my eyes will see

When Your face is before me

I can only imagine

Surrounded by your glory

What will my heart feel like

We agree that our mother's life ended happily. She lived in Yorba Linda for the past 45 years the land of gracious living. She loved her church community and her neighbors on Lorraine Lane. All her children, grandchildren and great granddaughter, nieces, and nephews came to visit her and share time with her. She was ready to meet her maker and her eyes and thoughts were focused on seeing the face of God in Heaven. We believe our mom's life ended joyfully always having her faith and love of God.

Mom as you watch over us from heaven we know we are in your sights. You were loved and we shall see one another again. We will always remember you. We will keep the love of God in our hearts with our final destination in mind reaching the gates of heaven and being reunited.

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