Willa May Mirabella; Retired Teacher

Willa May Mirabella, who taught at San Fernando Valley elementary schools for many years, has died at her Woodland Hills home. She was 60.

Mrs. Mirabella died Tuesday of cancer, said her husband, Joseph Mirabella.

Born in New York City, she came to California in 1940 and earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from UCLA. In 1954, she began teaching in El Segundo and about two years later, began teaching at Valley elementary schools, including Fullbright Avenue School in Canoga Park and Prairie Street School in Northridge.

Mrs. Mirabella, who taught kindergarten through sixth grade during her career, retired in April as a second-grade teacher at Topeka Avenue School in Northridge.

In addition to her husband, Mrs. Mirabella is survived by her son, Tom Shay of Moorpark; daughter, Carrie Shay of Santa Monica; brother, Leonard Rosen of Encino; sisters, Ilene Walden of Northridge and Jackie Larkin of Newport Beach, and a granddaughter.

A funeral, with burial to follow, is scheduled at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Oakwood Memorial Park, 22601 Lassen St., in Chatsworth.

Crawford Mortuary in Northridge is handling the arrangements.

Donations can be made in Mrs. Mirabella’s name to the American Cancer Society.