Shirley Elaine Merrithew

Baileyville – Shirley Elaine Merrithew, 72 died suddenly following a very courageous battle with Parkinson’s Disease on Tuesday, March 7, 2006 at a Calais nursing home. Shirley was born on March 8, 1933 in St. Stephen, N.B., daughter of the late William and Harriet (Russell) Thornton. She was employed as a nurse’s aide on the floor and the x-ray department at Calais Regional Hospital for many years, then with A.N. Deringer, retiring in 1995. Shirley was a member of the Peoples United Methodist Church in Baileyville, the Sweet Adelines, and was Past Worthy Matron of Orion Chapter #45 O.E.S. of Calais. She enjoyed sewing, quilting, spending time with her grandchildren, singing, the outdoors, and had a very giving spirit to others. Shirley was predeceased by a sister, Bernice DeGuire; two brothers, William and Russell Thornton; and her previous husband Eugene I. Merrithew. Surviving are four children, Susan Maioriello and husband Joseph of Schenectady, NY, Denise McShane and husband Joseph of St. Stephen, Eugene Merrithew Jr. and wife Elizabeth of Spokane, WA, and Beth Merrithew of Calais; two sisters, Francis Dwelley of Frostproof, FL, and Joan Middlemiss of St. Stephen; six grandchildren, Lindsey and Julianne Maioriello, Bethanie, Ashley, and Jillian McShane, and Lauren Merrithew;several nieces and nephews; and a dear friend Batya Zamir-Van Buren. A Celebration of Her Life will be held 6 p.m. Friday, March 10 at Mays Funeral Home, 26 Church St., Calais. In lieu of flowers, donations in Shirley’s memory may be made to the Maine Parkinson Society, 100 US Rt. #1 Unit #106, Scarborough, ME 04074.


Memorials:
Maine Parkinson Society, 100 US Rt. #1 Unit #106, Scarborough, ME 04074


Visitations:






Services:
6:00PM at Mays Funeral Home on Friday, March 10th, 2006 (map/driving directions)