Shirley Fonseca, also known as “Shag”, to friends and family. “Shirley Temple”, affectionately called by her mother, because of her long black curly rings of hair, was born January 15,1936 in Broxton, Georgia. She was the fifth child out of nine born to Thomas and Bertha Vales. A.K.A Shag to family and friends.

Shirley with her family relocated to the Eastwick section of Philadelphia. Here she received her High School education from Bok Vocational school located in south Philadelphia. Shirley was very creative and a natural artist. Her desire was to become a commercial artist.

She was an excellent cook. From French pastries and decorated cakes to homemade banana pudding and sausage making from scratch, she knew her way round a kitchen. Her artistic creativity flowed through everything she did. Every Christmas Shag would select beautiful Christmas cards and recreate the card onto the glass house windows using watercolors. Our Christmas gatherings at grandmother’s house were made extra beautiful behind the Christmas tree.

Shirley was blessed with so many talents. She had the beauty of a model but enjoyed making friends and family happy with her cooking and sewing creations. She was an excellent seamstress, upholster, gardener and barber. She loved to have fun, dancing, traveling, cruising and hitting the casino with her beloved husband Cruz and dear friends. Yes, she hit many jackpots. Shirley had various small jobs outside of the home. Finally retiring from Snowball Foods located in Williamstown, NJ in 2008.

To her younger brothers she was a tom boy who could and would rumble with the best of them. As beautiful as she was, she was a sweet, classy and soft-spoken woman, who never met a stranger. She would talk to anybody. She was a giving woman of her time, food and her ears.

Shirley met her beloved, but since deceased husband Cruz at the Market Place on Tinicum ave, Philadelphia, Pa in 1957. Cruz and Shirley married many years later. Their life -long courtship had become their new beginning. Their union begat no children of their own. However, they inherited many nieces and nephews through each of their families. Their love, laughter and tears lasted over 68 years. May they rest in peace together.

Shirley experienced her transition on September 2 ,2026. She leaves a legacy of love and loyalty to; Sisters: Ida Bell, Rebecca, Brother; James Sr. Sister-in Laws: Consuela, Asa, Addie, Valentina. Brother in laws: Carl Martin, Luciano, Santos, Haroldino. Nieces: Dianna, Abbie, Irene, Iris, Valerie, Tanya, Denise, Sheila, Linda, Michelle and Celeste; Nephews: Carlis, Thomas Sr. and Joey. David and Carlos.

A host of Great Nephews including Caleb, Matthew, Nolan, Devon, James Vales Jr., James Smalls Jr. and David Spiller and Axel. Great Nieces: Rayelle, Brianna, Aliyha, Azariah, and many special friends.

Relatives and friends are invited to her viewing on Friday, September 11th from 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM at the Farnelli Funeral Home, 504 N. Main Street, Williamstown, NJ, where a funeral service will be held at 12:00 PM. Cremation will be held privately and inurnment will take privately at Woodbury Memorial Park.

Farnelli Funeral Home is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: Shirley Fonseca

Time: Sep 11, 2026 12:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

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