Obituary of Shirley Sorci

Shirley Ann Sorci of Monterey passed away June 14 with the grace and dignity that characterized her life in health and illness. Shirley was the beloved wife of Anthony (Tony) J. Sorci and mother of Nicholas (Nick) Sorci of Lower Lake, California. Shirley was born in Los Angeles and raised in San Diego. She graduated from UC Davis, and met her future husband Tony when she returned to Davis for graduate school. Shirley’s many talents and intellectual pursuits included sophisticated tailoring and costume preparation for various Mendocino-area theatre companies, raising farm animals in college and Mendocino, rehabbing a house (practically building it from the ground up), and a deep appreciation for opera which she enjoyed immensely during her post-college years in San Francisco. She loved nature, and created a childhood of outdoor adventures and wonder for her son Nick along the coastline of Mendocino. Also the libraries where she worked at San Francisco State, UC Davis and in Mendocino benefitted greatly from Shirley’s intellectual curiosity and scholarship skills. She relished the inquiries and the research of library work. Shirley and Tony returned to Tony’s hometown of Monterey in 2009 after many happy years in Mendocino, Bishop and Grass Valley. They celebrated their 48th wedding anniversary in March. She is pre-deceased by her parents, Dr. Edward H. Corwin and Irma Corwin, both of San Diego. In addition to her husband and son, Shirley is survived by her sisters Joan Wood (Parker) of Monterey and Kristin Collins (Michael) of Berkeley; grandchildren Antonino and Felix; and numerous nieces and nephews. A private interment service was held on Saturday June 18. The family would like to thank Shirley’s Monterey doctors Nancy Rubin, Alejandro Centurion and Jill Tiongco; the caring staff at CHOMP; Hospice of the Central Coast; her dedicated caregivers, especially Carmen Vasquez; and the Carmel Foundation. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a donation to the Carmel Foundation in her honor, or simply an expression of joy and grace towards others. For those who knew her, the loss is immense, yet we know she is at peace. Service Information