Obituary for Shirley S. Gooderum (Porter)
Shirley S. Gooderum, 97, of Mount Laurel, New Jersey, passed away in her sleep on April 14, 2024.
Born in New York City, New York to the late Samuel and Gussie Porter, Shirley grew up in Manhattan. She graduated high school at the age of 15, and graduated from City College with a BMA – Bachelor’s of Business Administration. She met her first husband at a dance, and got married at 19. They had two daughters, which they raised in in Syosset, NY. After 19 years, they divorced and Shirley moved to NYC.
Shirley spent many years working as a bookkeeper and an office manager. While in NYC, she was very active in social and book discussion groups. It was in one of these meetings that she met her second husband, the late Alan Gooderum. After 10 years together, they tied the knot in 1987 and moved to Mount Laurel the following April, along with her daughter Merrill (Steibel, deceased), and granddaughter Jennifer (Rosenman).
Shirley and Alan were very active. They enjoyed ballroom dancing until they were almost 90, Shirley was a member of the Burlington County Art Guild and a founder of the JCC Couples Club. A feisty, strong willed and intelligent woman, Shirley was caring and devoted to her family. She enjoyed photography and discussing philosophy, she loved the vibrant colors and smells of nature, and she was a social butterfly who would reach out to make everyone feel included.
Beloved wife of 37 years of the late Alan E. Gooderum; loving mother of Hollace "Holly" (Kenny) Johnson and the late Merrill Steibel (Bruce Montgomery); devoted grandmother of Jennifer (Scott) Rosenman, Elizabeth (Frank) Tricarico, Allison (Adam) Jacobs and great grandmother of Lily and Layla. Shirley is predeceased by the late Marilyn Sherry and Norman Porter.
Relatives and friends are invited to Shirley's visitation on Thursday, April 18, 2024, 10:00 - 11:00 AM at the Mount Laurel Home for Funerals, 212 Ark Road, Mount Laurel, New Jersey, where the Funeral Service will follow at 11:00 AM. Interment at Locustwood Memorial Park, Cherry Hill, New Jersey.
Born in New York City, New York to the late Samuel and Gussie Porter, Shirley grew up in Manhattan. She graduated high school at the age of 15, and graduated from City College with a BMA – Bachelor’s of Business Administration. She met her first husband at a dance, and got married at 19. They had two daughters, which they raised in in Syosset, NY. After 19 years, they divorced and Shirley moved to NYC.
Shirley spent many years working as a bookkeeper and an office manager. While in NYC, she was very active in social and book discussion groups. It was in one of these meetings that she met her second husband, the late Alan Gooderum. After 10 years together, they tied the knot in 1987 and moved to Mount Laurel the following April, along with her daughter Merrill (Steibel, deceased), and granddaughter Jennifer (Rosenman).
Shirley and Alan were very active. They enjoyed ballroom dancing until they were almost 90, Shirley was a member of the Burlington County Art Guild and a founder of the JCC Couples Club. A feisty, strong willed and intelligent woman, Shirley was caring and devoted to her family. She enjoyed photography and discussing philosophy, she loved the vibrant colors and smells of nature, and she was a social butterfly who would reach out to make everyone feel included.
Beloved wife of 37 years of the late Alan E. Gooderum; loving mother of Hollace "Holly" (Kenny) Johnson and the late Merrill Steibel (Bruce Montgomery); devoted grandmother of Jennifer (Scott) Rosenman, Elizabeth (Frank) Tricarico, Allison (Adam) Jacobs and great grandmother of Lily and Layla. Shirley is predeceased by the late Marilyn Sherry and Norman Porter.
Relatives and friends are invited to Shirley's visitation on Thursday, April 18, 2024, 10:00 - 11:00 AM at the Mount Laurel Home for Funerals, 212 Ark Road, Mount Laurel, New Jersey, where the Funeral Service will follow at 11:00 AM. Interment at Locustwood Memorial Park, Cherry Hill, New Jersey.