Obituary of Shirley Marie DeVinney

Shirley Marie (Swendner) DeVinney of St. Paul, age 93 died on March 25, 2024 in Mankato, Minnesota while in Hospice after complications from Traumatic Brain Injury that occurred in early December 2022.

She was born in St. Paul, Minnesota in 1930 to William and Marie Swendner. She grew up in St. Paul and Maplewood and graduated from St. Joseph Academy in 1948. After High School she worked at 3M Company as a secretary until deciding to become a nurse. Shirley attended college at St. Luke's/St. Scholastica in Duluth graduating with a Diploma degree in nursing. She met her husband Charles DeVinney on a blind date while in Duluth and married in October 16,1954 in St. Paul. She worked as a nurse at St. Joseph’s Hospital in St. Paul in the psychiatric and pediatric units until being a stay at home mother for a several years. She continued long friendships with nursing school classmates, meeting for lunch in Duluth until in their ages in their late 80s.

Back into her nursing career, she worked as an Industrial Nurse at the 3M Company over 20 years until retirement in 1995 from the Case Avenue 3M warehouse where she provided medical services and testing for over 100 employees. After retirement, Shirley was an avid reader especially mystery novels and most recently World War 2 era novels. History of many periods in America was a passion and favorite readings included strong women figures during wars and conflicts, especially World War 2. She was also involved with volunteering medical care to pregnant teenagers as well as involvements in the Catholic Deaconate programs which her husband was a member of. Leisure time was also times out with her many friends, both new and life-long. She was very much into art and took painting lessons after which she painted numerous portraits and scenic vistas, especially of her favorite place: the North Shore of Lake Superior. She also was involved in various crafts including making several quilts and crocheting prayer shawls that were given to family, friends and Hospice patients.

In the 1990 she graduated with a BS degree in Professional Arts from St. Joseph’s College in Windham, Maine through correspondence courses and a 2 week residency. Her favorite class was a literature class that deepened her love of F. Scott Fitzgerald and his contemporaries. From 2008-2013 she moved to Green Valley, Arizona where she

volunteered with other retired and active nurses to explore and learn about modern Healthcare. She narrowly missed a wild fire while visiting her daughter and wrote about that in a journal about the “scariest day of my life.”

Shirley is survived by her three children: Denise DeVinney (Lonsdale, Mn.), David C. DeVinney (Jane) (Gainesville, Fl), and William DeVinney (New Cumberland, PA), her brother William Swendner (Meredith), 1 niece and 3 nephews. She has 5 grandchildren: David L. DeVinney (Shelby), Loren DeVinney (Carli), Alexandra DeVinney Richardson (Matthew), Amanda DeVinney, Tyler DeVinney and a step-granddaughter Laura Splinter Velishek (Andy). She also has 8 great grandchildren.

Special friends include Marlene Reuber, Mary Leisman and Susan Jobe.

She is proceeded in death by husband Charles DeVinney, parents William and Marie Swendner, daughter-in-law Sandra (Hambright) De Vinney as well as numerous aunts, uncles, cousins and friends. She was also beloved “Mom” to her previous little dogs Toto and Kenzie who preceeded her in death.

She was a life long member of Presentation of Mary Catholic Church in Maplewood while she lived in the Twin Cities. There will be a mass in her remembrance on April 10, 2024 at 8 a.m. which can be seen on Live Stream @ facebook.com/PBVMChurch or through subscription to the YouTube Channel: Presentation of the BVM – Maplewood, MN.

Service will be held on THURSDAY, APRIL 25, 2024

Visitation at 10:00 a.m. and Catholic Mass at 11:00 a.m.

Presentation Church, 1725 Kennard Street, Maplewood, MN 55109

There will be no lunch after the service. Burial will be private with family only.

In lieu of flowers please send donations to:

Brain Injury Association of America (for brain injury research). Address is on website or donate online at:

https://www.biausa.org/

Shirley will always be remembered for living her best life as well as her caring and giving heart.