Anne E. Parsell Shughart

Anne E. Parsell Shughart, age 90, formerly of Mechanicsburg, PA, died suddenly on Tuesday, January 7, 2025 at Christiana Care Union Hospital in Elkton, MD.
Anne was born April 19, 1934 in Harrisburg, PA, grew up in Mechanicsburg, PA and graduated from Mechanicsburg High School in 1952. She was musically talented and learned to play the flute during her junior and senior high school years so she could join the high school band. She also sang alto in the high school chorus. A highlight of that time, for Anne, was playing the flute solo for the local Singer band in the John Philip Sousa's song " Star Spangled Banner " at the annual Mechanicsburg Jubilee day. She also learned to play a Hammond organ for the church services at The Harrisburg Unitarian Church.
She met her future husband Sherwood in 1953 when she was working at the ice cream counter at the Howard Johnson's Restaurant on the Pennsylvania turnpike. He was working at the Gulf gasoline service station next door–he tried to get a free ice cream cone, but she refused.
For two years she attended Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, NY with a major in music, but on the untimely death of her father Dr. William H. Parsell she transferred to Temple University in Philadelphia to study dental hygiene. After graduation from Temple, she worked in the Shippensburg school district as a dental hygienist and then later for a dentist in York, PA.
While Sherwood was still attending Penn State University, they got married the last Saturday of March in 1959 at the Harrisburg Unitarian Church. Anne & Sherwood were married 65 years until he died in May 2024.
Anne always loved dogs and as a child she adopted a neighborhood dog "Skipper." For much of her married life she took care of a dog. Besides dogs she loved her family and close friends. The extended family would take a vacation to Emerald Isle, NC every summer. She attended many sporting events, concerts and recitals that her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren participated in and if you ask any of her grandchildren, they will tell you that Memaw always had their favorite food and snacks when they visited. Anne, enjoyed the time spent with friends. They played cards, went on several trips together and in later years talked frequently to check in on each other.
After working 25 years, as a dental hygienist, for Dr. Robert Johnson in Newark, DE Anne retired, but remained active. Anne loved to read and would go to the Newark Free Library at least once a week. She also volunteered for Delaware Hospice and a Delaware Herbalist organization who took care of an herb garden in New Castle, DE. In addition to helping her children & grandchildren she also became competent in caning chairs. Sherwood and Anne were always interested in Early American Antiques.
She is predeceased by her husband, Sherwood; and her daughter, Pamela Sue Dall of Knoxville, MD. She is survived by her daughter, Beth Shughart McKee (John) of State College, PA; her son, Scott Shughart (Agnes) of Newark; and her sister, Sue Parsell of San Francisco, CA. Anne is also survived by seven grandchildren, Jesse Hall (Kristen), Sarah Hall (Jim), Amelia Dall (Griffin), Daniel Dall (Hayley), Jeff Shughart (Melissa), Jacob Shughart and James Shughart; and six great grandchildren, Norah, Layla, Hunter, Heath, Siena and Madison.
A private service will be held at the discretion of the family.
In lieu of flowers please contribute in Anne's memory to Delaware Hospice, 630 Churchmans Road, Suite 200, Newark, DE 19702 or online by clicking here.