Shirley L. Kucharski

Shirley Lee (Wilkins) Kucharski, 88, of Wareham died Wednesday, October 22, 2025 at St. Luke's Hospital.

Born at home in Woodstock, VA, she was the daughter of the late Lory Bell Wilkins and Carrie Mae (Rickard) Kenney.

Shirley was a graduate of Mount Vernon (Seventh Day Adventist) Academy in Mount Vernon, Ohio. She later took nursing classes at Washington Missionary College SDA in Tacoma Park, Maryland.

She always stayed with her Seventh Day Adventist roots, but was a loyal servant and congregate of The First Congregational Church of Wareham.

Shirley was a member of the Sandwich Chapter #221 Order of the Eastern Star in the 1970's and 80's.

She was a devoted foster care mom, taking in infants who would then be placed with permanent families. There was always a newborn in her arms.

Shirley was best known for her community service. She transported many patients to the Boston area hospitals for appointments, particularly patients who had brain surgery, and developed a wonderful friendship with her loyal friend, Jen Nataly.

She was a house wife until the late 1990's when she was employed as a field supervisor for the ATM division of Bay Bank, later Bank of America. She later worked summers at Nana's Ice Cream and Candy and also as a cashier at JCPenney until her stroke.

Shirley also volunteered at Tobey Hospital, mainly in the Physical Therapy Department, where she completed over 3,800 hours of volunteer service from 2001-2020. She also volunteered at the First Congregational Church thrift shop.

She gave the BEST hugs.

She is survived by her children, Michael Kucharski of Playas Del Coco, Costa Rica, and his children, Kyle Kucharski and his wife Coleen, Cody Lee Nicholson (name's sake), and TJ Nicholson; Deann Isherwood and her husband Ralph and their children, Ocean Mae and the late River Sky; and Matthew Kucharski and his wife Melissa and their children, Mariah Kucharski, Max Lague, and Kelsea Hurd. She is also survived by her sister, Freda Piper; and two great-grandchildren.

She would want to thank her son-in-law, Ralph, for his devotion to both her and her daughter during the her last years. She spoke fondly of him every chance she got.

Her family would like to thank her friend, Kenneth for his devotion to her over the years, especially ensuring her safety during the winter months. They would also like to give a special thanks to Michelle Silva, RN, on the PCU at St. Luke's Hospital for her care, kindness and guidance in her last hours.

Her visitation will be held Tuesday, October 28, 2025 from 4-7 PM in the Saunders-Dwyer Mattapoisett Home for Funerals, 50 County Rd., Mattapoisett. A Celebration of Life will be held at 6 PM, during the visitation period. Burial will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations in Shirley's memory may be made to SouthCoast Health at Home, 141 Page St., New Bedford, MA 02740, with Shirley's name in the memo line, or online at https://www.southcoast.org/giving/. For directions and guestbook, visit www.saundersdwyer.com.