Shirley was born in Edmonton, Alberta. Her youth was spent in Chilliwack, BC. She attended Normal School in Vancouver and married Terence Mulder (also from Chilliwack) in 1956. Terry’s career took them to Edmonton, Alberta, and Evanston, Illinois, before returning to the west coast and settling in North Vancouver with their teenaged children. Shirley taught in Chilliwack, Vancouver, Edmonton, Evanston, and North Vancouver. Her teaching activities ranged from grade school to nursery school to English as a Second Language (ESL). She was a founding member of the widely respected ESL Assessment Centre in the North Vancouver and worked tirelessly for many years, ensuring foreign students were given the best education possible in the primary school districts. After her retirement she became very involved with the Canadian Federation of University Women in North Vancouver. She passed away peacefully after 10 years of chronic pulmonary fibrosis. She is survived by Terence Mulder, her children Taimi Mulder (Frank Vernon) and Christopher Mulder (Susan Toews) and their son, Davis Mulder, her sister Beverley Mazar (Jim), and her nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, June 15th at 2:00 PM at The View on Lonsdale (5th floor), 2121 Lonsdale Avenue, North Vancouver. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the North Shore Hospice Society in Shirley's name.