Shirley Mae Burow

In 1929, Louise was born to Edith and Peter Serafin. Their baby girl's name was unofficially altered to “Shirley,” perhaps because she resembled the famous actor/dancer near the same age, Shirley Temple. In her 95 years, everyone who knew and loved the daughter, sister, mother and grandmother referred to her as Shirley. Shirley Serafin married Milton “Tex” Burow in Colorado, the state she dearly loved and where they raised three boys. She was a very hard worker, diligently helping to support her family and, for many years, simultaneously worked two full-time jobs. During the day, she worked at May-Daniels & Fisher (MayD&F) – a Denver department store – and also worked the night shift at Coors Brewing Company. A creative artist and painter, Shirley produced beautifully crafted ceramics, which she both painted and fired. She was an avid quilter, a pastime enjoyed with her equally talented sister, Ellen. Gardening was also an activity she enjoyed, and Shirley was especially proud of the heirloom green beans (brought over from the Old Country), which she continued cultivating. Her beautiful poppies and purple irises also lined the property of her Lakewood home. Shirley and Tex loved to drive cross-country and, following retirement, went to Florida each year to visit their middle son and his family, stopping in Texas to see Tex's extended family along the way. Shirley valued family. Like clockwork, she spoke every Saturday to her sisters and loved having her children and grandchildren visit more than anything. "I'm in heaven," she would say. "Mark is here," or "J.P. is visiting," or “John and Tess dropped by.” In 2019, Shirley moved to Florida and lived with her son and his family, affectionately referred to as her Florida Burows. She returned to her Colorado Burows in 2022 and lived in Boulder until her passing. Shirley is preceded in death by her parents, her devoted husband Tex, and her loving sister, Ellen Serafin O'Byrne. Her sons, Mark Burow (Jean Burow) of Boulder, CO, John Thomas Burow Sr. (Ray Page Burow) of Loxahatchee, FL, and James Peter Burow of Denver, Colorado mourn her passing, along with Shirley's six grandchildren, Miriam Ruth Burow Harris (John Harris), Sierra "Tess" Burow Eddie (John Eddie) Meredith Burow O'Such, (Alex O'Such), Page Rebekah Burow, Michael Jean Burow, and John Thomas Burow Jr. Shirley's sister, Sharon Serafin Lazarinni (Donald Lazarinni), brother, Ronald Serafin (Julie Serafin), and many nieces, nephews, and friends also grieve. Shirley placed her faith in Christ many years ago, and as a Christ-follower, attended Our Lady of Fatima in Lakewood, CO, Immaculate Conception, Lafayette, CO, and Family Church West in Royal Palm Beach, Florida. We do not mourn "as those without hope" and can rest in the Lord's promise that the Burow family matriarch is experiencing the joys of heaven described in I Corinthians 2:9 and by the words of Jesus in John 14:1-3. 1 Corinthians 2:9: "Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him." John 14:1-3: "Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also."