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Nancy "Nana" Balmediano Shirley was the embodiment of perseverance and kindness. Surrounded by her loved ones, she was peacefully guided to Heaven on May 31, 2023 at the young age of 60.

Nance and her siblings were awarded US Citizenship when she was 4, moving from her life's starting point, Pasig Rizal, Philippines, while her father was between combat tours in Vietnam.  She was the baby until another sister was later born in Germany, one of her many childhood homes as an Army Brat that included California, Texas, Colorado, Hawaii, and Georgia. Her sisters were her best friends and her best band was the Bay City Rollers!

Always pursuing her goals, Nance joined ROTC and graduated from San Jose State University with a BSN, commissioned as a US Army officer, fulfilling her dream to serve as an Army Nurse. During her senior year, she met Dave Shirley at Fort Huachuca, Arizona. Dave never left her side despite the long distances, and would soon become her loving husband at the West Point Catholic Chapel,the day after Dave's graduation in May 1988. She then used her skills to light up many lives throughout various states. During her and Dave's Army service and her career as a Registered Nurse, she focused on pediatrics, as her passion was serving kids in need.

Her family migrated from California to Virginia in 2000, inspired by a trip to Washington, D.C. with Dave and her parents so her Dad could run the Army Ten Miler with Dave. The move's purpose was to provide for better homes, neighborhoods, and schools for her nieces and nephews. Everyone lived with Nance and Dave while their homes were built, with each family eventually settling within a ten mile radius. Nance willingly gave up her daily work as a nurse to turn all her attention to her sisters' kids, "our kids", pouring all her heart and soul into "making sure they're all right before she leaves this earth"! Mission accomplished Captain Shirley!

Tita Nana is survived by her husband, Dave Shirley; her nieces and nephews; Virginia Crew - Jun Jun, Krystal, Rachie, Deski, Kiana, Miggy, Maddy, Jax, and Ryder; Arizona Crew - Lauren, Kyle, and Maddy; Illinois Crew - Paxton, Adler, and Emery; her siblings; Arnel, Sue, Amel, Tess, and Aimes; and her parents; MSG (R) Fred and Connie Balmediano. A Nana to all; her name became a title - that title is now a blessing!

Funeral Liturgy at Mass: Nance's family and friends gather at her home parish, Saint Theresa Catholic Church, Ashburn, Virginia, at noon on Saturday, June 10, 2023, proclaiming praise and thanks to God for Christ's victory over sin and death, commending her to God's tender mercy and compassion, and seeking strength in the proclamation of the Paschal Mystery.

Rite of Committal: Nance's family and friends gather at Arlington National Cemetery at a later date for Nance's inurnment with military funeral honors, concluding our final community act in caring for Nance and committing her to her resting place. We express hope that, with all those who have gone before us marked with the sign of faith, Nance awaits the glory of the resurrection. The Rite of Committal is an expression of the communion that exists between the Church on earth and the Church in heaven: Nance passes with the farewell prayers of the community of believers into the welcoming company of those who need faith no longer, but see God face-to-face.

In Lieu of Flowers, Charitable, or Cash Gifts to memorialize Nance's life: To honor the legacy of Nancy Balmediano ("Nance") Shirley's life, Nance's husband, William David ("Dave") Shirley, and their "kids", their Virginia Crew nieces and nephews (Romy, Jr., Krystal, Rachel, Desiree, Kiana, and Miguel, Jr.), launched a scholarship fund to raise tuition assistance for current college students pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree from her alma mater, San Jose State University; her Virginia nieces and nephews alma maters, George Mason University (Romy, Jr. and Miguel, Jr.), Virginia Tech (Rachel), Virginia Commonwealth University (Desiree), and James Madison University (Kiana); and an Arizona Crew niece's (Maddy) nursing school, Northern Arizona University.

Donating to her scholarship fund is tax-deductible, so you can help students while saving money on your taxes.

Please consider contributing at:

https://tinyurl.com/nancybshirleymemorialfund

Nance was so very, very proud of her "kids" and is now their guardian angel forever!