Obituary of Shirley Diane Grussenmeyer

Shirley (Pollard) Grussenmeyer, 63, passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by her family, in the early hours of Monday, June 20, 2016, after a courageously battling cancer for 8 months. Born and raised in Vineland, her parents Douglas and Virginia (Martinelli) Pollard. After graduating from Vineland High School in 1971, Shirley attended Cumberland County College and then Glassboro State College, graduating with a Bachelor's and then a Master's degree in Education. She went on to become an exemplary teacher for thirty-six years, beginning her career at St. Vincent de Paul School in Mays Landing, where she met the love of her life, Mark Grussenmeyer. She subsequently taoght at the then, Sacred Heart School, the Ellison School, Landis Intermediate School and Durand Elementary School, teaching every grade level between first and eighth. A passionate educator, she made a profound impact upon generations of students. On June 21, 1980, Shirley married Mark, and their beautiful marriage has been an inspiration to all who have known them. Her life revolved aroundher husband and her two sons, and as with everything she set out to do, she devoted herself to being the best wife and mother imaginable. A cultured woman of many talents and intersets, Shirley was an ardent traveler (particularly in Europe), ballroom dancer, equestrian, tennis player, pianist and collector and restorer of antique furniture. But above all, she was a woman who lived attentively according to the will of God, and everything she did from raising a wonderful family to teaching innumerable students, she did with a godly foundation. Though we celebrate her final victory over death through Christ, all who knew her will ever mourn her loss upon this earth. The world was a better place because of her and it will never be the same without her.