Shirley A. Mauro, 81, of Russell, Kansas, died on Sunday, September 17, 2017, at the Wheatland Nursing Center in Russell.

Shirley was born on January 25, 1936, in Fairport, Kansas, the daughter of Sherman L. and Clara (Bender) Young.  She grew up in Bunker Hill and Russell and graduated from Russell High School in the class of the 1954.  She married Salvatore John Mauro, Sr. in 1955 and from this union they were blessed with 4 children Marie, Cathy, Salvatore, Jr. and Gary.  As a young woman she worked as a waitress and at Dawson's Drug Store but worked for most of her life as a Certified Nurse's Assistant at the Russell Regional Hospital.  She enjoyed babysitting, solving search and find puzzles, working crossword puzzles and taking long walks.  She also enjoyed going to singles clubs and loved to dance.  Most of all she enjoyed spending time with her family.

Surviving family include her daughters Marie Rall of Russell, Kansas and Cathy Pasek (David) of Russell, Kansas; sons Salvatore J. Mauro, Jr. of Parsons, Kansas and Gary Mauro of Russell, Kansas; sister Juanita Grandlund of Roseburg, Oregon; 5 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, ex-husband Salvatore J. Mauro, Sr., sister Mary Lokken and brother Leonard Young.

A celebration of Shirley's life will be held at 10:30 A.M. on Saturday, September 23, 2017, at the Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary in Russell, Kansas with Pastor Roger Dennis officiating.  Services will conclude at the mortuary with a private family burial at a later time.  Visitation will be from 9 A.M. to 8 P.M. on Friday, September 22, 2017,  at the mortuary with the family greeting guest from 6 P.M. to 7 P.M. Friday night.  Memorials may be given to Wheatland Nursing Center of Russell, Kansas, and sent in card of the mortuary.  Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary of Russell, Kansas, is in charge of the funeral service arrangements.