Shirley Handmaker Jaffee, age 80, beloved wife of Richard Jaffee; loving mother of Susan (David), Karen (Thomas), Nancy (William), and Daniel (Heidi); also survived in the hearts of her 14 grandchildren: Jennifer, Michael, Kevin, Jimmy, Nicole, Rebecca, Camille, Jeffrey, Taylor, Elise, Claire, Joey, Jacqueline, and Buddy; loving sister to Stanley (Nancy) and Robert (Phyllis); and missed by many, many more. Shirley’s kindness spread joy and happiness to all whom she touched.
A 1957 graduate from the University of Wisconsin Madison with a degree in Elementary Education and a BSRN student at Loyola University Chicago, Shirley worked as a 1st grade teacher in Hampton, Virginia. She truly made the world a better place through a life dedicated to her family, community and ecumenical beliefs. Always charitably inclined, Shirley worked with the Chicago Foundation for Education, the Woman’s Board of Rush University Medical Center, Clearbrook Center, Bears Care, Foundation Fighting Blindness, and Northwestern Memorial Hospice. She taught English as a Second Language classes and founded Chicagoland’s first Girl Scouts of America troop for girls with intellectual and physical disabilities. Shirley was deeply loving of animals and trained her golden retriever Daisy as a service and therapy dog; together they regularly visited elementary schools and assisted living facilities. Private burial services have been held.
A celebration of Shirley’s life will take place at the Standard Club, 320 S. Plymouth Court, Chicago on Sunday August 14th at 4:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to the Chicago Foundation for Education (cfegrants.org 312-670-2323), the Woman’s Board of Rush University Medical Center (thewomansboard.org 312-942-6513), or the CLL Global Research Foundation (cllglobal.org).