Shirley A. French Obituary

Shirley Ann (Harris) French, 83, of Gloucester, MA, passed away peacefully after a long illness on Sunday, July 28, 2024. Born in Gloucester, MA, on October 12, 1940, Shirley was the eldest child of Uno Arthur Harris and Margaret (Comeau) Harris.

Shirley graduated Gloucester High School in 1958 and married Mark Walter French of Gloucester, MA in 1967. For many decades, Shirley was a member of the VASA Order of America local lodge #98 in Rockport, MA, where she frequently helped to organize Scandinavian cultural events both on Cape Ann and across the state, serving as the Chairperson of the local Rockport lodge and as District Master of VASA District #2 for Massachusetts. In addition, for many decades Shirley was a parish member of the Sacred Heart church in Lanesville, where she served as the Director of Religious Education for several years. In her later years, Shirley was a member of the West Gloucester Trinitarian Church.

In her life, Shirley enjoyed watercolor painting and amateur photography and received local awards for both. She was also renown for her baking, especially her Finnish Nisu bread. Shirley will always be remembered by her loved ones as having a fierce sense of humor, a love for her family, and a commitment to her Christian faith.

In addition to her husband Mark, Shirley is survived by her children, Shelly Thimmer, Michael Thimmer, Tracey Andrew French, and Elizabeth (French) Jones; her grandchildren, Isaac Jones and Ian Jones; her sister, Margaret (Peggy) Vadala; and several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her brother, Edward Harris.

Visiting hours will be held at the Greely Funeral Home, 212 Washington Street, Gloucester, on Thursday, August 1, 2024, from 4 to 7:00 p.m. Services will be held at the West Gloucester Trinitarian Church, 488 Essex Avenue, West Gloucester on Friday, August 2, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. Relatives and friends are cordially invited to attend.

In lieu of flowers, her family requests that her friends and loved ones make a donation to their favorite charity in Shirley's name.