Shirley A. Garrigan

Shirley A. Garrigan, (nee Ballantyne), age 76, passed away on Sunday, January 9, 2022 at Lightways Hospice in Joliet.

Shirley is survived by her loving husband of 54 years, James Garrigan; children Leslie(Joe) Rae, Audrey(Steve) Baker, Kelly Garrigan, and Amanda Garrigan; grandchildren, Jonathan(Chrysta) Foiles, Melanie Foiles, Noah Baker, Meaghan Baker, Bailey Leavy, Sydney Scholz, and Woody Scholz; her four great grandchildren, and her brother Ray(Judy) Ballantyne.

She is preceded in death by her parents Milton “Bud” and Loraine(nee Scheidler) Ballantyne, and her son John Garrigan.

Shirley was born and raised in Chicago, and was known throughout the family as “Sis”. She graduated from Harper High School, and went on to work as a secretary, where she met some of her lifelong friends. She met her husband at a dance, and they married within a year. They enjoyed a lifelong love of music, and dancing. They enjoyed trying out new restaurants together, and sharing the experiences with their friends. They loved attending the Goodman Theater, and liked taking their grandchildren to the Christmas plays. She was a Disneyphile, and she enjoyed sharing that love of Disney World with the family, in the form of Disney Cruises and trips to the parks. She was a wonderful and inventive cook, and enjoyed surprising her family with new recipes. She absolutely cherished her times spent with the grandchildren. She brightened the lives of all who knew her. Her family, and friends will miss her. She was a big believer in acts of kindness. She always told her children; “In a world where you can be anything, be kind. On your own, do something nice for someone in need.”
So in lieu of flowers she would have wanted us to contribute to the CMT association of USA. www.cmtausa.org. It is a foundation to cure the disease that she fought her entire life.

Services for Shirley will begin on Saturday, January 22, 2022 at Lincolnway Christian Church, 690 E Illinois Highway, in New Lenox, with a memorial visitation from 9am until the time of service at 1pm. Shirley will be laid to rest at Chapel Hill Cemetery.