ST. ALBANS, ENGLAND – Shirley Adrienne Baum passed away on September 16 at the age of 88 in St. Albans, England.
A native of London, she was prede- ceased in 2015 by her husband, Braham Baum. She leaves behind her children, Gary (Elena) and Tracey and grandchildren, Jaden, Asher, and Micah.
Born in 1936, she experienced World War II as a child in London, and came of age in post-war Britain. She met Braham, with whom she shared exactly the same birthday and year, at a synagogue youth club at the age of 16. They were together for 64 years, enjoying cruising all over the world during their later years. She eventually cared for him lovingly as he struggled for years with the dementia that ultimately took his life.
Shirley loved to learn. After retiring from a life of dedicated full-time work to help support her family, she became involved in the popular University of the Third Age. She pursued her interests in antiques, theater, gardening, and singing for fun. Her passion for books, travel, and baking were matched only by her passion for her grandchildren. She and Braham made numerous visits to Norfolk for simchas and were made to feel very welcome by the Beth El community. As a long-distance grandparent, she made sure she was in her grandchildren’s lives by sending a constant stream of cassette tapes on which she had recorded herself reading them children’s books and stories. The “Grandma Tapes,” soon to be digitized for posterity, introduced her grandchildren to new and different books, and were well loved.
A funeral service was held at Bushey Cemetery in London.