Office Hours: Monday – Friday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Calls outside of office hours? No worries! Our team will respond within 10–15 minutes.
June 2, 2017
Services
A Memorial Service in celebration and commemoration of Shirley’s life will take place at 11:00 AM on Saturday, June 10, 2017, at Preakness Reformed Church, 131 Church Lane, Wayne, NJ.
Shirley May Terpstra, age 83, of Wayne, passed away on Friday, June 2, 2016.
Born in Boston Massachusetts, she grew up in Caldwell Township, NJ and graduated from Caldwell High School with the Class of 1952. As a young girl, Shirley was always interested in sports and, in high school, she starred on the Caldwell Chiefs basketball and softball teams as well as playing on her church’s sports league.
Following graduation, Shirley entered the East Orange General Hospital School of Nursing. As part of the nursing curriculum she also took classes at Upsala College in East Orange. She graduated in 1955 as president of her class, bestowed with the title of Registered Nurse - a profession that would serve her well in her desire to be of service to others. She was a lifelong member of the Alumni Association of the East Orange General Hospital. Shirley began her nursing career at the East Orange General Hospital and, over the course of many years, she served patients with excellence also working in a doctor’s private practice in East Orange as well as for several Wayne area nursing homes including Llanfair House and Lakeview Nursing Home. Her career wrapped up with a part time position with Visiting Health Services until retirement in 1995.
While in nursing school, Shirley met the man she would ultimately marry. The year was 1953 and the young man’s name was David Terpstra. He had just returned home from his service in the U.S. Army and was invited by a friend, whose sister was also in the nursing program, to attend a Valentine’s Day party at the school. It was at this party that Shirley met David and it was the beginning of a warm and loving relationship that led to marriage on Saturday, January 21, 1956 at the Methodist Church in Caldwell. After a honeymoon in Virginia, the newlyweds made their first home in Clifton and a year later, they moved into their newly built home in the Lionshead Lake community in Wayne.
Soon after moving to Wayne, Shirley and David became parents as they were blessed with their firstborn – a baby girl who they named Lorrie. The blessing of four additional children – Andrew, Donna, Craig, and Douglas, brought much joy, excitement and busyness to these young parents. While the kids were young, Shirley took a break from her nursing career to concentrate on the love and care of her children. For a number of years, while her daughters were involved, she served as a Girl Scout leader in the Lionshead Lake Girl Scouts chapter.
Shirley and David enjoyed a storied retirement and one of their favorite things to do together was taking to the open road, the air and the seaways to explore this great big world. At last count, they figure they had been able to visit upwards of thirty-five countries as well as most of the United States including Hawaii and Alaska. One of Shirley’s favorite states to visit was Maine as she loved to recall fond memories spending summers there during her childhood. She and David also enjoyed many bus tours where they enjoyed the company of friends they made while on the tours. In recent years they took boat cruises including one to Iceland and Greenland.
Shirley’s love of sports remained a big part of her life rooting for the Mets, Red Sox, and Jets. If her favorite teams weren’t playing, she’d often tune into other sporting events on television. She also enjoyed needlepoint and knitting projects. Each of her children and grandchildren especially appreciated the needle point creations of their college’s crest that Mom/Grandma made for them. Knitting projects were also always ongoing at home. Each of her eleven grandchildren have received or will receive an afghan lovingly made by grandma in recognition of their high school graduation.
Shirley was a longtime member of Preakness Reformed Church of Wayne having joined the church when she moved to Wayne. She enjoyed the fellowship of her church family and participating in the life of the church. She and some friends started a group in the church called Tote Bags and Fellowship. They would gather together on the first Tuesday of every month to enjoy lunch and a meeting in which they would make items to donate to newborn babies in local hospitals as well as to others in need.
Loving people was a hallmark of Shirley’s life. Her love for others inspired her to be a nurse, a loving and giving mother and grandmother, and a friend to anyone that God put into her life. She was always concerned that all were doing well.
Shirley is survived by her beloved husband of 61 years – David Terpstra; four dear children: Lorrie Brandenburg of Hagerstown, MD, Donna and husband Robert Doyle of Belefonte, PA, Craig and wife Sheri Terpstra of Jim Thorpe, PA, and Douglas Terpstra of Clifton; and eleven cherished grandchildren: William, Nicholas, Richard, Tara, Robert, Roxanne, Brian, Kevin, Brittany, Zachary, and Natalie. Bringing great sorrow to Shirley, she was predeceased by her dear son Andrew in 2016.
In lieu of flowers, those planning an expression of sympathy in Shirley’s name are asked to consider Preakness Reformed Church.
If you would like to send a private condolence directly to the family use this condolence section.
A Memorial Service in celebration and commemoration of Shirley’s life will take place at 11:00 AM on Saturday, June 10, 2017, at Preakness Reformed Church, 131 Church Lane, Wayne, NJ.
June 2, 2017
Services
A Memorial Service in celebration and commemoration of Shirley’s life will take place at 11:00 AM on Saturday, June 10, 2017, at Preakness Reformed Church, 131 Church Lane, Wayne, NJ.
Shirley May Terpstra, age 83, of Wayne, passed away on Friday, June 2, 2016.
Born in Boston Massachusetts, she grew up in Caldwell Township, NJ and graduated from Caldwell High School with the Class of 1952. As a young girl, Shirley was always interested in sports and, in high school, she starred on the Caldwell Chiefs basketball and softball teams as well as playing on her church’s sports league.
Following graduation, Shirley entered the East Orange General Hospital School of Nursing. As part of the nursing curriculum she also took classes at Upsala College in East Orange. She graduated in 1955 as president of her class, bestowed with the title of Registered Nurse - a profession that would serve her well in her desire to be of service to others. She was a lifelong member of the Alumni Association of the East Orange General Hospital. Shirley began her nursing career at the East Orange General Hospital and, over the course of many years, she served patients with excellence also working in a doctor’s private practice in East Orange as well as for several Wayne area nursing homes including Llanfair House and Lakeview Nursing Home. Her career wrapped up with a part time position with Visiting Health Services until retirement in 1995.
While in nursing school, Shirley met the man she would ultimately marry. The year was 1953 and the young man’s name was David Terpstra. He had just returned home from his service in the U.S. Army and was invited by a friend, whose sister was also in the nursing program, to attend a Valentine’s Day party at the school. It was at this party that Shirley met David and it was the beginning of a warm and loving relationship that led to marriage on Saturday, January 21, 1956 at the Methodist Church in Caldwell. After a honeymoon in Virginia, the newlyweds made their first home in Clifton and a year later, they moved into their newly built home in the Lionshead Lake community in Wayne.
Soon after moving to Wayne, Shirley and David became parents as they were blessed with their firstborn – a baby girl who they named Lorrie. The blessing of four additional children – Andrew, Donna, Craig, and Douglas, brought much joy, excitement and busyness to these young parents. While the kids were young, Shirley took a break from her nursing career to concentrate on the love and care of her children. For a number of years, while her daughters were involved, she served as a Girl Scout leader in the Lionshead Lake Girl Scouts chapter.
Shirley and David enjoyed a storied retirement and one of their favorite things to do together was taking to the open road, the air and the seaways to explore this great big world. At last count, they figure they had been able to visit upwards of thirty-five countries as well as most of the United States including Hawaii and Alaska. One of Shirley’s favorite states to visit was Maine as she loved to recall fond memories spending summers there during her childhood. She and David also enjoyed many bus tours where they enjoyed the company of friends they made while on the tours. In recent years they took boat cruises including one to Iceland and Greenland.
Shirley’s love of sports remained a big part of her life rooting for the Mets, Red Sox, and Jets. If her favorite teams weren’t playing, she’d often tune into other sporting events on television. She also enjoyed needlepoint and knitting projects. Each of her children and grandchildren especially appreciated the needle point creations of their college’s crest that Mom/Grandma made for them. Knitting projects were also always ongoing at home. Each of her eleven grandchildren have received or will receive an afghan lovingly made by grandma in recognition of their high school graduation.
Shirley was a longtime member of Preakness Reformed Church of Wayne having joined the church when she moved to Wayne. She enjoyed the fellowship of her church family and participating in the life of the church. She and some friends started a group in the church called Tote Bags and Fellowship. They would gather together on the first Tuesday of every month to enjoy lunch and a meeting in which they would make items to donate to newborn babies in local hospitals as well as to others in need.
Loving people was a hallmark of Shirley’s life. Her love for others inspired her to be a nurse, a loving and giving mother and grandmother, and a friend to anyone that God put into her life. She was always concerned that all were doing well.
Shirley is survived by her beloved husband of 61 years – David Terpstra; four dear children: Lorrie Brandenburg of Hagerstown, MD, Donna and husband Robert Doyle of Belefonte, PA, Craig and wife Sheri Terpstra of Jim Thorpe, PA, and Douglas Terpstra of Clifton; and eleven cherished grandchildren: William, Nicholas, Richard, Tara, Robert, Roxanne, Brian, Kevin, Brittany, Zachary, and Natalie. Bringing great sorrow to Shirley, she was predeceased by her dear son Andrew in 2016.
In lieu of flowers, those planning an expression of sympathy in Shirley’s name are asked to consider Preakness Reformed Church.
Guestbook
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.