Elizabeth "Betty" Ann (Ditch) Shirley

Elizabeth “Betty” Ann Ditch Shirley, 85, of Saltsburg passed away peacefully at home surrounded by her loving family on Sunday, November 1, 2020. She was born on Thursday, May 23, 1935 in Iselin, Pa.,  the daughter of the late Earl and Flora Braeseker Ditch, and those she grew up with knew her as “Betty Ann”.  Betty was married to her husband William Shirley for 60 years prior to his passing in 2014. She  was a 1953 graduate of Elders Ridge High School where she was described in the school  yearbook as “capable and vivacious an athlete in skirts”. Betty was employed by Torrance State Hospital in the 1950’s. She was a deeply committed Christian and a longtime member of the Trinity Presbyterian Church of Clarksburg, where she held various positions including Elder and Deacon. She loved teaching Bible Stories to the Children in her Sunday School Classes and she actively shared her faith with her children and grandchildren. Betty said the best gift she ever received was her family. She was happiest when cooking and baking for Shirley family dinners and spending time with her children, grandchildren and her faithful dog, Ginger. Betty was a loving, selfless and generous soul who always put other ahead of herself and loved to be a blessing others. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband William, a sister Pauline (John) Wright and three brothers, Richard (Marge) Ditch, Carl (Louise) Ditch and Jimmy (Phyllis) Ditch. Betty is survived by her four sons, Bill Shirley of Saltsburg, Brad (Tammy) Shirley of Saltsburg, Brian (Becky) Shirley of Clarksburg and Brent (Theresa) Shirley of Kernersville, NC; and grandchildren, Olivia, Bethany, Ben, Daniel, Michael, Jacob, Alexandra, Abby, Brooke and Breona, as well as step-grandchildren Chris and Alyssa. She is survived by two sisters, Rose (Charles) Blair and Margie (Ken) Henderson and three brothers, John (Thomasina) Ditch, Jerry (Donna) Ditch and Larry (Claudia) Ditch and numerous nieces and nephews. Visitation will be held Wednesday, November 4, 2020 from 5:00 PM until 8:00 PM in the Kelly L. Corridoni Funeral Home LTD, 400 Indiana Ave., Avonmore, Pa. Family will not be present at visitation, however everyone is encouraged to pay their final respects. In lieu of flowers, family suggests contributions be made in Betty’s memory to VNA Hospice, Medical Arts Building, Suite 3000, 850 Hospital Rd, Indiana, Pa. 15701. Due to public health concerns and concerns for our families, per CDC guideline and the PA State Dept of Health, a MASK IS REQUIRED AT VIEWING.

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