Shirley F. Grandia

CROSS KEYS-Shirley F Grandia, 97, born July 28, 1918 in York to Francis and Maud (Slaysman) Utterbach, passed away Saturday, June 11, 2016 at the Brethren Home at Cross Keys. Her father died when she was 3 months old. Her mother then married Charles Roser of York and Shirley was raised as Shirley Roser. She attended West York High School for 2 years, transferred to East Berlin High School graduating in 1936. Shirley worked as a telephone operator for York Telephone where she met and married Elwood Portzline. Divorced in 1951 she later married William (Wim) M. Grandia to whom she was married until his death until his death in 1986. They were married nearly 35 years. During their marriage they lived in Baltimore, MD, Long Island, NY, and Chicago, IL, before returning to York County (Jacobus) in 1969. Shirley’s parents and four siblings, Charles Roser, Philip Roser, Russel Roser, and Marion Roser, preceded her in death. There are many nieces and nephews surviving her. We would like to especially thank Mary Beth Roser Bovender for her special kindness and loving care. Shirley has one daughter, Kathy Portzline Grandia Mosso with her first husband and a son Willian (Bill) Grandia II with Wim Grandia. She was also step-mother to Wim’s two children from a first marriage, Michael R C Grandia and Janiene M Grandia-Shahidi, both of York. She was grandmother to Christine L Mosso of Cutler Bay, FL and step-grandmother of six grandsons and one granddaughter as well as seven great grandchildren. Shirley resided at the Brethren Home at Cross Keys for the past 13 years. In the past Shirley was an active volunteer through her churches and active in their Women’s groups, sang in church choirs, volunteered at Lutheran homes in Shrewsbury and York. She worked with both the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts. She was trained and volunteered at Contact York, The Literacy Council of York (teaching English), Meals on Wheels, and many other groups over the years. A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, June 18, 2016 at Heffner Funeral Chapel & Crematory, Inc., 1551 Kenneth Rd. in York. Viewings will be held from 6-8 p.m. on Friday and 10-11 a.m. on Saturday. Pastor Tina Minnich will be officiating at the service. Burial will be in Prospect Hill Cemetery in York. In lieu of flowers please donate to Compassionate Care Hospice, or The Brethren Home at Cross Keys, or her church, Salem Lutheran Church of Jacobus, PA.