Shirley H. "Lee" Garvey, 96 years old, of Burlington, Iowa, died April 9, 2025, surrounded by family. Born on July 15, 1928, in Frankfort, N.Y., to Gladys and Harvey Hughes, Lee. Most recently a resident of Burlington, Iowa; her home was in Burlington, Vermont for almost 40 years.
Married to the love of her life, Robert “Bob” Garvey on September 2, 1950, in Utica, N.Y., they went on to raise seven children, Timothy, David , Mary, Susan, Peter, Gregory, Christopher, and their foster son, Bao Nguyen.
Shirley was preceded in death by husband Robert, two sons Gregory and Timothy and her older sister Irene Lenhard. Lee is survived by her children David Garvey and wife Vivian, Mary Garvey Myers and husband Joe, Susan Garvey Pittman and husband Jerry, Peter Garvey and wife Karen, Christopher Garvey, and Boa Nguyen and wife Ahn Tran; twenty-three grandchildren, twelve great grandchildren and one great great grandchild. Lee is survived by her younger sister, Joan Lynn of Penfield, NY.
Lee graduated from Utica College School of Business and had a career in family management and insurance. Celebrated by all her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren as “Saint Shirley,” she was known by her friends for her strength, kindness, and patience. Lee was an avid gardener, a serious card shark, a strong political activist, and a tough pro-life advocate; she loved children and worked tirelessly to protect the unborn. Known for her strong faith she was often a volunteer in various church activities, sang in the church choir and regularly visited the sick and infirmed.
A mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on May 10, 2025, at 10:30 a.m., at Saint Mary’s Church of Divine Mercy Parishes, 502 West Mount Pleasant Street, West Burlington, IA 52655. Shirley's ashes will be interred in the fall in Burlington, VT.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in Lee’s name be sent to Transitions DMC, 515 S Main Street, Burlington, Iowa 52601, a local homeless shelter.