Shirley Brooks, a longtime resident of Old Greenwich and most recently of Brighton Gardens of Stamford, passed away peacefully on March 28, 2023.
Shirley Brooks passed away on March 28. Her funeral will be at Oak Lawn Cemetery in Fairfield.
She was born in Pittsburgh. She was the daughter of the late Colonel Hugh and Florence Parks.
Shirley received her undergraduate degree from Westminster College in Pennsylvania, master’s degree from University of Bridgeport and continued her studies at Columbia University in New York.
Shirley enjoyed working with children and was an elementary schoolteacher in the Greenwich school system for 37 years. She taught first through third grade at Glenville, Dundee, Hamilton Avenue, and Riverside schools.
She was a leader in the open classroom concept at Dundee Elementary School. Shirley made many great friends during her career.
Even after her retirement, she continued to work as a long-term substitute teacher and volunteer in the school system.
She was an elder and church schoolteacher at Noroton Presbyterian Church in Darien.
Shirley enjoyed traveling to the Caribbean Islands or driving to Florida during school breaks. In the summer, she enjoyed going to the beaches in Rhode Island and working in her garden.
She cherished spending time with her grandchildren. She will be greatly missed by her family and friends.
Shirley is survived by her daughter, Keisa McPartland, and son in-law, Andrew McPartland; her son, Norman Brooks, and daughter in-law, Betsy Woods Brooks. She was predeceased by her son, Jeffery Brooks, and her daughter, Laura Fast. She is also survived by her grandchildren: Susan Fast, Morgan McPartland, Kayley McPartland and Jamie McPartland; her great-grandchildren and her sister, Audrey Matson.
The funeral will be at Oak Lawn Cemetery in Fairfield.
— an obituary on Legacy.com from Nutmeg State Cremation, where online condolences may be left