Shirley Ann Czaja, 81 of Palm Bay, Florida passed away peacefully on Sunday May 14th (Mother's Day) after a long hard battle with COPD,  surrounded by the love of her loving husband Robert Czaja, her daughter Lori Light, her son Jim Francisco, his wife April Francisco and a chaplain by her side praying for peace for her.  Fly free from pain and fear my sweet and beautiful mother with love from your baby/Lori.
Shirley was born to the late Maurice and Helen Leach of Maine, in Middletown, Connecticut on December 18, 1941. She lived in Union main with her parents for several years before they relocated back to Middletown Connecticut.

Shirley was a kind hearted and devoted wife and mother and a courageous, fiercely independent and strong woman who always kept true to her heart and gave selflessly and fully of herself to those she loved and cared for. Friends who know her describe her as a big hearted, great friend and all around kind person.

Shirley  worked tirelessly to provide for her children as a single mom of three. Making sure they always had what they needed.
She spent several years working at Aetna until retiring in 2003.

She met her husband Robert Czaja in Connecticut and they were married in Orlando Florida on July 1, 1986 and then moved to Palm Bay, Florida in 2004. Robert has taken exceptional care of our mom Shirley through her struggles and the family loves and appreciates all he has done for her.

She was an avid advocate of donating to the women's shelters, animal shelters and Saint Jude's Children's Hospital.  She was passionate about volunteering for special needs children in Connecticut.  She spent several more years volunteering to care for people with alzheimer's in Palm Bay, Florida.

Shirley is survived by her husband Robert Czaja of Florida, her sister Barbara Mee of Florida, her children Lori Light and her husband Paul of Connecticut, Jim Francisco and his wife April of Florida,, Joy Seymour and her husband Brian of New Hampshire, Emma Czaja of Connecticut, Robert Czaja and his wife Dawn of Virginia, Allan Czaja and his wife  Jeanette of Connecticut.  She is also survived by 12 grandchildren - Zachary,Jacob and Nicole Sena of New Hampshire, Natalie, Grace, Nicholas and Jason of Connecticut, Kerri, Mallory and Courtney of Virginia, Nikki Leigh Semenza and her husband Timmy of New Jersey, and Megan Seymour of Massachussets and 2 great grand children Billie and Charlie of New Jersey.

We're all so thankful for all she's done, she made the happy times better and the bad times easier to handle.  We admire her so much for the way she lived her life and cared for her family and friends.  We are happy we got to love her and  are blessed to have been loved by her.
With Shirley Life was good. The world was a better place with her in it. Heaven gained a special angel.

A celebration of life will be held at a later date.  Donations in her name can be made to Saint Jude's, womensshelters.org or any animal rescue.