My aunt, Shirley Smith Valverde, was one of the most beautiful people I've ever known. Always bright, always smiling, she could light up a room in an instant. I remember always being so excited to go visit her, even though my cousins tormented me horribly. She always made it better though. She would always do my hair when I went over there. She loved to play with my hair.

I used to be really close with her, but as I grew up, we grew apart. But she was still beautiful. When I saw her in September for the first time in 4 years at my cousin's wedding, she looked more beautiful than I remembered. Once again, bright and smiling. She had a beautiful smile.

My beautiful Aunt Shirley was taken by the swine flu two weeks ago. I can't believe she's gone. My brother keeps telling me to remember the good times, all the happy memories, but its so hard with all the pain I'm feeling in my heart right now. I feel so lost and hopeless. Scatterbrained. I keep rereading what I'm typing because it just doesn't seem to make sense. 'Aunt Shirley's gone, Aunt Shirley died' doesn't make sense. It's not supposed to.

I'm fighting back tears as I write this journal, and send messages to her sons. I'm reading the posts on her wall on Facebook, listening as her sister tells her to wake up, its time to wake up. The same questions keeps passing through my mind over and again: "Why her? Why my Aunt Shirley??" But we never understand that. She and I missed out on so much, because I let myself grow away from her. I never got to tell her I got my degree, I never got to tell her about my Kristall. I never got to talk to her about our lives, never got to play Mafia Wars or YoVille with her on Facebook. And as long as I'm here, she won't play with my hair again...

I've learned now. Life is too short. That friend sitting beside you, your family in the next room. Love them. Cherish the time you have with them. You just never know when they will be gone. We see things things on the television or in the movies and think, "that would never happen to me". But that's the thing: that's why they're in the movies and on tv. Because they DO happen. We just don't realize it until it does happen to us...

Her Obituary from Legacy.com:

Shirley Ann Valverde "Blondie" September 25, 1962 - October 26, 2009 Visitation for Shirley Ann Valverde will be held at Basham Funeral Care (3312 Niles Street) on Friday, October 30, from 5:00-8:00 p.m. Graveside services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 31, 2009 at Greenlawn Southwest Cemetery. Shirley went to be with the Lord on October 26, 2009. She was born in Santa Maria, California on September 25, 1962 to Gana and Farrel Smith. She moved to Bakersfield in 1982 with her family. She married the love of her life, Rudolf, on November 6, 1983. Their first bundle of joy, Joshua, was born in 1985. Their second, Cody, followed in 1987. Shirley was very active in every aspect of her children's lives, especially their education. Shirley opened her home to many foster children over the years. In 2003, Shirley finally got her dream, a little girl, Mia. Following Mia, her family grew with the additions of Kadynce and Connor, her grandbabies, and her special daughter- in-law Sabrina. Shirley is preceded in death by her grandma Opal. She is survived by her husband Rudolf; her children, Joshua and Sabrina, Cody, and Mia; her stepchildren, Rudy and his wife Allison, and Renee and her husband Josh Ralls; her grandchildren, Kadynce, Connor, Miranda, Chris, Brooklyn and Jayla; her mother and stepfather, Gana and Delbert Smith; her siblings, Ana Bradford, Bryan Smith, and Joel Smith; numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews. Many thanks to all that were there to support and pray for our family.


She was such a beautiful person, such a loving, giving person. Heaven's so damn lucky. It's got an awesome new angel.

Rest In Peace, Aunt Shirley. I love you and I miss you so, so very much.