Shirley Aikala

Shirley Rosalie Layau Aikala, born in Honolulu, Hawai’i Territory April 19, 1935, passed away peacefully at Blakey Hall Assisted Living Community in Elon, North Carolina on October 19, 2026 following a four-month illness.

She was a devout Catholic and attended St. Dominic Catholic Church in Security, Colorado until 2019. A lifelong homemaker, Shirley’s children considered her and her husband to be exceptional cooks. Her sons inevitably became reluctant judges when often asked “who’s food tastes better; mine or your father’s?”. Shirley was blessed with a melodious voice and a talent for the ukulele. She performed at every Luau and at gatherings of family and friends, proudly displaying her masterful strumming technique that everyone wanted to learn. She loved to laugh and was a talented accent and voice mimic. Shirley knew the value of a dollar and steadfastly passed that knowledge on to her children right into adulthood. The wife of a decorated Army Veteran of 22 years, she supported her husband’s careers with pride and had great respect for her country and its flag. Tours of duty took him to Germany (three times), Vietnam, Washington State, & Colorado, during which she orchestrated the moving of her children and household with great tenacity. Army life also took her & the family on memorable trips to Belgium, Copenhagen, Holland, & Paris and Shirley was always ready to capture each moment with her camera.

Shirley is survived by her sons, Sherman (Teny Keshishian), Howard, Scott (Kara), & Grant; grandchildren Kelli, Kiana, & Chloe Aikala; step-grandchildren Diana Weir (Mat Mercuri) and Arielle Weir; sisters-in-law Ilse Layau, Augusta Rose Plante (Raymond), Lillian Rosa (Clifford); brother-in-law George Aikala (Mary a.k.a. Micki), and her many nieces & nephews of the Aikala clan.

Shirley is predeceased by her parents Emaline Pestana and Filomeno Rustia, and her stepfather Pascual Layau; husband of 51 years, Howard Charles (a.k.a. Sonny) Aikala; brother Vernon R. Layau (Ilse); sister Dolores Miranda (John); sisters-in-law Vivian Aki (William), Harriet Lindsey (Eddie); brothers-in-law Daniel Aikala (Josefina), Martin Aikala Sr. (Helen), Roger Aikala (Irma).

The family would like to express their deep appreciation of Shirley’s Camino Del Rey neighbors for their kind support during the very difficult early days of dementia. They also take great consolation in the fact that Shirley trusted in the Lord with all her heart and did not lean on her own understanding (Proverbs 3:5) and understood how great God’s love was for her, that He sacrificed His Son so that she could have everlasting life (John 3:16). She stands now in Glory with our Heavenly Father having been saved by grace alone through Christ Jesus.

A memorial gathering will be planned at a later date.

You may send condolences to the family online at www.lowefuneralhome.com