Another woman who made a difference

This post on FB was under Covenant of Unitarian Universalist Pagans.

Planning the Skinner House Book for the Voices series at Pantheacon. Seated with Selena Fox, Shirley Ranck, Margot Adler, Jerrie Hildebrand, and Starhawk. (quite a few years ago)

Shirley and Jerrie Hildebrand leading Sunday Service at CUUPS Convocation in Salem, MA 

Shirley Ranck and Jerrie Hildebrand at the UUA General Assembly 2017 in New Orleans at their book launch with Skinner House Press.

It is with deep sadness I share that Rev. Shirley Ranck passed through the veil this morning. She was with her family at the time listening to music. Shirley wrote the groundbreaking curriculum “Cakes for the Queen of Heaven” and coedited and authored with me “Pagan and Earth-Centered Voice in Unitarian Universalism”. Working with Shirley over those two years were some of the most empowering ones I ever experienced and her wisdoms I hold on to daily. Her trailblazing spirit enlivened many over the years. Hail to the traveler. She is now every where and in everything.

(All the above photos and comments by Jerrie Hildebrand)

Shirley Ranck Obituary

Rev. Shirley Ann Ranck of Niles Michigan, passed away peacefully Sunday, May 14, 2023. She was born in Jersey City, NJ on October 22, 1930 to Gilbert Holmes and Ann West Bush. She grew up in a number of New Jersey suburbs of New York City.

In 1950 she married Philip Powers Page, Jr. There were two children from this marriage, sons Scott and James. The marriage ended in divorce. In 1962 she married James Gilmour Ranck. There were two children from this marriage, daughters, Christina and Laura. This marriage also ended in divorce. Shirley received her BA degree from Montclair State University in 1953 followed by a Masters of Religious Education from Drew University in 1958, an MA in Clinical Psychology from City University of New York in 1964, a PhD in Urban School Psychology from Fordham University in 1976, and a Master of Divinity from the Thomas Starr King School for the Ministry in 1978. Shirley worked for many years as a school psychologist in the Livingston, NJ public schools. After receiving her PhD, she decided on a career change and became a Unitarian Universalist minister. Most of her career was spent as an interim

minister for various Unitarian Universalist congregations around the United States and Canada.

Shirley is the author of the Cakes for the Queen of Heaven: A Ten Session Course in Feminist Thealogy, published by the Unitarian Universalist Association. She is also author of the books Cakes for the Queen of Heaven and The Grandmother Galaxy, and a number of articles for various publications. Her last published work was as co-editor of Pagan and Earth-Centered Voices in Unitarian Universalism, to which

she contributed three chapters.

Shirley is survived by her sons, Scott Page (Joy Chase) and James Page (Carole Briggs), both of Madison, WI and her daughters, Christina Ranck (Edward) Bell of Sonoma, California and Laura (Donald) Van Lue of Niles, Michigan; grandchildren, Kevin Helliwell of Niles, MI, Jackie (Matthew) Yelland of Stoughton, WI, Michael Cervantez (Megan Heuer) of San Francisco, Sarah Bell (Pio Valenzuela) of Sonoma, CA, and Camilla (Brian) Carlyon of Madison, WI; and many great grandchildren and a large extended family.

Her ashes will be interred with her parents in Brielle, New Jersey.

NOTE By Barbara R: Most of my friends and family know the Cakes for the Queen of Heaven course provided through the UU church brought me to understanding goddess cultures, and a very high respect for the Divine Feminine. Much gratitude to Shirley for authoring that curriculum!