Saying Farewell to an Original, Shirley Talley

By Sr. Deenan Hubbard, CCVI

A CCVI Associate for more than four decades, we considered Shirley Talley an extended family member of the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word, Houston. Her life of faithful service, generosity, devotion to her family and community, and to the charism and values of the Congregation inspired many Sisters. Surrounded by her loved ones, she peacefully passed away on January 25, 2025, at the age of 93.

Among her many ties to the Congregation, Shirley and her husband, John G. Talley, were original members of the CCVI Associates of the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word. Shirley was a member for 42 years. After her retirement as a CCVI Associate, she stayed close to our community, praying the rosary with the retired Sisters daily. Her unwavering faith and the friendships forged through her church community sustained her through life’s joys and most challenging times.

Shirley was fervently committed to her Roman Catholic faith and was a parishioner of Queen of Peace Church for 68 years.  She was very involved in her faith community in many ways, both inside and outside the parish. She and John raised their eight children in the church. For many years, their sons served as altar boys at daily Mass at the Villa de Matel, and then on Sundays, and for funerals and special occasions like Jubilee celebrations.

Shirley met her one true love, John G. Talley, while in high school. They married in 1952 and together celebrated 63 years of marriage. They settled in the Alpine Valley neighborhood, where John lived until his death and Shirley until she turned 89 and then moved into a senior facility.  Shirley graduated from Sacred Heart Dominican College with a nursing degree and worked as an RN, pursuing her passion for service in healthcare for over two decades, first as a surgical nurse and later as a school nurse at South Houston Intermediate School. She also helped establish one of the first community health clinics for Houstonians. She touched many lives in her life, and her experiences were deeply shaped by the families who she was blessed enough to call neighbors, many of whom became lifelong friends.

She was an excellent cook, which was no doubt necessitated by caring for her large family and, later, her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She loved telling stories of the accomplishments of her children into their own adulthood and the growth of her grandchildren and great grandchildren.

As you can tell, Shirley Talley was an amazing woman, and we, as Sisters, are proud to have known her and shared faith and some of life with her. Thank you, Talley family, for sharing your mom with us. Thank you, God, for allowing us to witness this disciple of Jesus.