Shirley L. Sartorelli

Shirley Lynn Sartorelli, age 71, of Gaastra, MI, passed away unexpectedly on Saturday, May 12, 2018 at the Dickinson County Healthcare System in Iron Mountain, Michigan. On February 5, 1947, Shirley was born in Stambaugh, MI; the daughter of the late Robert and Anna Halstead. She attended the Iron River Schools, graduating from Iron River High School with the Class of 1966. She then went on to attend one year of nursing school to obtain her Certified Nurse’s Assistant certificate. Shirley married James Sartorelli on December 17, 1966 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church of Gaastra, and the couple made their home in Gaastra. They celebrated 49 wonderful years together, before James passed away on April 4, 2016. She was a devout member of St. Cecilia Catholic Church of Caspian and St. Ann’s Society.  She enjoyed knitting, crocheting, planting, gardening and frequenting craft sales. She delighted in spending quality time with her family, especially her grandchildren and great grandchildren, and was very involved in her grandchildren’s sporting events. Shirley was also known for her extraordinary cooking and baking skills. Each year, during the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays, she baked upwards of 20 to 30 homemade pies, so each of her family could take one home to enjoy. Additionally, she was an exceptionally hard worker, which she instilled in her family. Even though she had to endure many years of dialysis, Shirley still enjoyed life to the fullest, keeping a positive attitude and never complaining of her health issues.  Shirley is survived by her son, Thad (Jenny) Sartorelli of Iron River; daughters, Anna (Scott) Bray and Mareia (Randy) Clements, both of Gaastra; daughter-in-law, Missy Sartorelli of Iron River; brother, Roger John Halstead of Crystal Falls; sister, Marilyn Marshall of Fridley, MN, sister-in-law and close friend, Lettie Sartorelli of Gaastra; grandchildren, Kristiena, Alessandro, Justin, Adina, Cameron (Jordan), Christopher, Alan, James, Louis, Dante and Aurelia; great grandchildren, Jayde, Sophie, Dimitri, James IV, and one due in June of 2018, to be named Vincent. In addition to her parents and husband, Shirley was also preceded in death by her son, Jude on December 21, 2010; brother-in-law, Kenneth Sartorelli and sister-in-law, Joan Sartorelli. Visitation will be held on Friday, May 25, 2018 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. at the Jacobs Funeral Home of Iron River. Funeral services will follow at 12:30 p.m. at the St. Cecilia Catholic Church of Caspian, with Rev. Gregory Veneklase to offer the Mass of Christian Burial. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Shirley L. Sartorelli, please visit our flower store.