Shirley Carter Andrews

To view the live streaming of the Mass of Christian Burial on Thursday, April 29th at 10:30 AM go to:



Https://heartstreaming.net/shirley-carter-andrews



Omaha native Shirley Andrews passed away on April 23 at Josie Harper Hospice. She is preceded in death by husband Richard Andrews and parents Irene and George (Nick) Carter.

Born the second of three daughters, Shirley was close to older sister Marian and younger sister Beverly all her life. The tight-knit Catholic family grew up in South Omaha during the Great Depression of the 1930s. Nick Carter supported the family by working at the Armour meat-packing plant.



Shirley loved music from an early age. She studied piano at St. Rose School and continued to play into adulthood, as well as sing in several parish choirs. She was an expert seamstress able to turn a bolt of satin or linen into any bridesmaid, prom, or tea-length dress the occasion required.



After graduating from St. Mary’s High School, she entered the workforce as a secretary. She met Dick Andrews in 1959 and married him on January 14, 1961 at St. Rose Church. The newlyweds moved to California later that year. After their sixth child was born Dick and Shirley moved back to Omaha in 1971. They lived across the street from Mary Our Queen Church and School, with the children often coming home for lunch. Shirley was a fixture, volunteering for various parish ministries. Dick was a parish leader and the two provided their family with a faith-life of prayer and service.



As the children grew up and out of their home, Shirley worked as a secretary at Jack Bryans Insurance for 15 years beginning in the 1980’s. While there, she took her breaks typing cards and letters to family who had moved away. She could fit an entire week’s news on one index card, two-sided. The Omaha update always came, care of Shirley and the US Postal Service.

Shirley followed Dick into his hobby of wood-carving. The two travelled to Nebraska meetings and fairs, widening an already robust circle of friends. Shirley made the world beautiful through gardening, card writing, and sharp dressing.



After Dick’s death in 1995, Shirley continued to help with grief support groups and recording funeral Masses. With great passion for the unborn and their mothers she assisted with the local pro-life movement for over 20 years. Savvy with social media, Shirley stated on her Twitter account that she was “Blessed to be a Mother, Grandmother, promoter of our priests and protector of the Catholic faith.” She was an amazing mom and will be greatly missed.

Shirley is survived by her her sisters, Marian Monaghan and Beverly Campbell; brothers: Guy Gowen and Glen Gowen; children: Mark (Mary) Andrews, Mary (John) Blinkhorn, Kate (Jeremy) McConnell, Tim (Lisa) Andrews, Chris (Bob) Parra, Fr. Dan Andrews; 12 grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.



IN LIEU OF FLOWERS: Memorials are suggested to Essential Pregnancy Services (Omaha) or the Richard & Shirley Andrews Memorial Scholarship at Conception Seminary (Missouri).



A MASS OF CHRISTIAN BURIAL will be held Thursday April 29th at 10:30 AM at Mary Our Queen Catholic Church.



VISITATION will be Wednesday, April 28th beginning at 5:00 PM at Mary Our Queen Catholic Church with a WAKE SERVICE at 7:00 PM



To view the live streaming of the Mass of Christian Burial on Thursday, April 29th at 10:30 AM go to:



Https://heartstreaming.net/shirley-carter-andrews





























John A. Gentleman Mortuaries and Crematory



1010 North 72 Street



Omaha, Nebraska 68114



402-391-1664



www.johnagentleman.com