Shirley Ann Hensel passed away peacefully on July 27, 2019 at the age of 77.
She was born on March 14,1942 in The Dalles to Jerome “Papa” Voorhees and Arlene “Muh” Steiner Voorhees.
Shirley spent her childhood in The Dalles and Umatilla, where she enjoyed summer days on the banks of the Umatilla and Columbia rivers, school dances, movies at the Mor Theater, lifelong friendships, spending time with her grandparents, and riding her horse, Pokey. Shirley was fearless and somewhat of a competitive daredevil.
Shirley graduated from The Dalles High School in 1960. Her first job was at the Coffee Cup in Umatilla, where she met and soon married Max Renick in 1961. Max and Shirley shared three “favorite” daughters, residing in Umatilla, Pendleton and College Place, Wash.
In 1977, Shirley married Frederick “Bill” William Hensel. They built their forever home in Hermiston and added another “favorite” daughter to complete the family.
Shirley was a kind and gentle person who loved spending time with her family and friends, reminiscing and telling stories. Shirley was a homemaker and provided weekend cleaning services for local businesses. She enjoyed caring for her home, dogs, yard and garden. She was very artistic and loved to paint and refinish furniture. She painted Winnie the Pooh characters in her daughters’ nursery, made countless Barbie clothes and Barbie furniture, knitted blankets, and made Christmas keepsakes and other numerous crafts. Her style, humor and trademark stubbornness will not be forgotten, and Sunday Funday will never be the same.
Shirley is survived by her four “favorite” daughters, Cheryl Stensrud (Chris), Carie Brosnan (Damon), Jana Smith (Randy) and Jami Hensel Baird (Brian); grandchildren, Jennifer, BreeAnn, Michael, Hailey, Shelbi, Carson, Conor, Carl, Brianne and Tanner; six great grandchildren; siblings, Janet Nagy-Leitch, Michael Voorhees and Steve Voorhees; and nieces and nephews, Gina, Ashley, Sarah, Kayla, Chris, Tony, Casey, Jeffery, Cody and Jordan.
She was preceded in death by her parents and her husband, Bill Hensel.
A private graveside service will be held.
Friends and family are invited to attend a celebration of her life at the Tuscan Masonic Lodge in Umatilla on Friday, Aug. 16, 2019 at 2 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Shirley’s honor to Vange John Memorial Hospice Education Fund, 645 W. Orchard Ave., Suite 500, Hermiston, Ore., or Pet Rescue-Humane Society, 1844 N.W. Geer Road, Hermiston, Ore.
Please share memories of Shirley with her family at burnsmortuaryhermiston.com.
Burns Mortuary of Hermiston is in care of arrangements.
