Althea H. Shirley

1935 - 2018

Althea H. Shirley Althea H. Shirley On November 5, 2018, Althea Hersey Shirley died peacefully at home in Winchester MA at age 83 from pancreatic cancer. Memorial services will be held on Saturday, Nov 17 at 11:00AM at the First Congregational Church in Winchester. Althea was the daughter of the late Waldon Bradbury Hersey and Lois Elliott Hersey, born at Winchester Hospital on May 15 1935 and a resident of the town for most of her life. During her years as a stud- ent at Mount Holyoke College she learned to play bridge, which became a lifelong passion. Also during her college years she met Robert Lawrence Shirley of Newton MA, whom she married at the First Congregational Church of Winchester on Dec 20 1958. After graduating from Mount Holyoke she held a position as the administrative assistant to the president of Harvard University, before settling into her lifes work as a wife and mother. She devoted her life to raising her four children, of whom she was immensely proud. After the children reached adulthood and left home, she was able to spend all her time on her bridge game, and in time became a nationally ranked player recognized by the American Contract Bridge League as a Ruby Life Master. She was also the long-time captain of the Brae Burn CC Swiss Team, and a belov ed mentor and partner to many. Althea is predeceased by her husband, Robert L Shirley, and is survived by: her son, Thomas E. Shirley of Wrentham MA and his wife Susan B Shirley, her daughter Alison S. Perrin of Middlefield, CT and her husband Adam E. Perrin, her son John B. Shirley of Boxford, MA and his wife Debra L. Shirley, and her daughter Caroline S. Woodward of Winchester, MA and her husband Jeremy M. Woodward, her grandchildren Robert L. Shirley and wife Nicole K. Shirley, Andrew B. Shirley, Benjamin A. Perrin, Rebecca Perrin, Samuel J. Shirley, Alexander R. Shirley, Jacob T. Shirley, Ruby M. Woodward, and June J. Woodward. In lieu of flowers, gifts may be made to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in memory of Althea Shirley to support cancer research and patient care at: Dana- Farber Cancer Institute, P.O. Box 849168, Boston, MA 02284. or via www.dana- farber.org/gift. |