Shirley Christolini

BRISTOL

Shirley Christolini passed away peacefully and surrounded by her family on Wednesday, July 2, 2025, at the age of 91 after a sudden and brief illness. Shirley was born in Attleboro, Massachusetts on April 17, 1934, to the late Norman and Doris (Cruff) Parlow and attended Bristol Public Schools. Shirley was the widow of Benny Christolini, with whom she shared 67 years of marriage. She retired from the State of Connecticut Department of Administrative Services as an Investigator. She is survived by her son Ben and his wife Teresa (Byington), daughter Karen and her husband Matt Hintz, son John and his wife Kate (Sullivan), sister Darlene Rodgers, and brother Norman Parlow Jr. She was predeceased by her sister Eleanore Duprey, her brother Peter Parlow, and her beloved daughter and son-in-law, Linda and Dr. Robert Chamberlain. Her greatest joy was her family. Shirley was blessed with ten grandchildren: Dr. Amy Chamberlain Scribner and husband Nate, Nicolas Chamberlain and wife Paige (Ziplow), Kathryn Chamberlain Moore and husband Jake, Sarah Christolini and husband Sam L'Ecuyer, Jill Christolini, Douglas Christolini, Dr. Molly Hintz and husband Brian Urbach, Ben Hintz, Emma Christolini and husband Dr. Nicholas Hawkes, and Julia Christolini. She was also fortunate to enjoy nine great-grandchildren: Jack and Ella Scribner, Quinn, Ryan, Henry and Norah Grace Moore, Marie Rose and Cecelia L'Ecuyer, and Mills Hintz-Urbach. Shirley will be remembered as a force of nature who was always busy and ready for her next adventure. She was active and enjoyed working out in the pool at the Hospital for Special Care, golfing with her league at Westwoods, and bowling at Lessard Lanes. She loved traveling with friends and family, whether it was a grand tour of Italy or a Senior Center bus trip, and attended weddings, graduations, and kids' sporting events with equal pleasure. When she actually sat still, Shirley devoured books from the Bristol Public Library or cheered on the UConn women's basketball team. She was a talented seamstress, knitter, and crocheter, known for sewing curtains, creating matching nightgowns for her granddaughters and their American Girl Dolls, and whipping up lots of mittens. The family will keenly miss eating Shirley's spaghetti sauce and meatballs, which many have tried to replicate but none have succeeded. She was fiercely competitive, especially when playing Racko with her grandkids. A funeral service will be Wednesday, August 6, 2025 with a Mass of Christian Burial celebrated at 10:00 a.m. at St. Francis de Sales Church (formerly St. Anthony), 111 School Street, Bristol, CT. All attendees are asked to please go directly to the church on Wednesday morning. Burial will follow at St. Joseph Cemetery, Bristol, CT. The family will receive relatives and friends at the O'Brien Funeral Home, 24 Lincoln Ave., Bristol, CT on Tuesday, August 5, 2025 from 5 - 7 p.m.. Memorial donations may be made to The Bristol Public Library, www.bristollib.com/donate-to-bristol-public-library. To leave an online message of condolence, please visit Shirley's tribute page at www.OBrien-FuneralHome.com.

Shirley Christolini