Shirley Stroyan Bennett 1/18/1944 - 2/23/2006 Shirley was a wonderful and very positive person who was full of life. She was the loving wife and best friend for 42 years of Barry Bennett from Orinda, great mom to Brett Bennett of Danville and Kelly Bennett of Concord and a loving daughter to Dorothea Stroyan from Rossmoor.

Shirley graduated Oakland High School in 1961 and University of Pacific in 1965. She was a member of Delta, Delta, Delta Sorority in College. She taught school for one year before deciding to dedicate her life to become a great homemaker and volunteer for worthy causes.

Shirley was a member of the first Docent class and Docent Chairman of John Muir Medical Center. She was a member of the Ahwahnee Guild and Auxiliary President from 1986-87. At the same time she was an Ex-officio member of the John Muir Board of Directors and the John Muir foundations.

Following her 14 years of volunteering at John Muir she became involved with the Wellness Community of San Francisco and the East Bay. She helped establish the fundraising program, hosted several golf tournaments at Lake Tahoe and was a board member and board chairman. Shirley was also a member of the national board of Wellness Communities and recipient of Volunteer of the Year award in 2003. She along with a few friends established the Cornicopia Consignment Shop to benefit the Wellness Community.

Shirley was a charter member of the California Symphony Alliance and she produced the programs for the Annual Symphony Ball. She was a decorating diva, cat lover, budding bridge player and a long time member of Diablo Country Club. Shirley was a person who had a generous heart, creative mind and a wonderful sense of humor. She never complained and you would never have known that for many years she suffered from chronic liver disease. She leaves a large void in the lives of everyone who knew and loved her.

Donations in her memory may be made to The John Muir Health Foundation, The Wellness Community, California Symphony or a charity of your choice. There will be a gathering to celebrate her life at Diablo Country Club on Sun, March 12, 2006 from 2:00 pm to 4:30 pm for her friends to have an opportunity to share their fond memories of this woman who made such a difference in her community. Please R.S.V.P. to (925) 937-0539 or (925) 933-3599.