Shirley (Cox) Hanninen, 90, of Methuen, Massachusetts died November 2, 2016, at Salemhaven, in Salem, New Hampshire, after a brief period of failing health.
Shirley was born in Lawrence, MA on April 8, 1926, a daughter of the late Raymond and Mary (Lannon) Cox. Shirley graduated from the class of 1944 from Plymouth High School, Plymouth Ma. She worked at the IRS and at Doctor’s Park in Andover, Mass for many years, making many friends. She was involved with the P.T.A. and Girl Scouts when her children were school age, and enjoyed cross word puzzles, word jumbles, knitting, sewing, reading and following the Red Sox and Patriots. She especially liked story telling about family. Many winter months were spent in Stuart, Florida in the company of her snowbird friends from Cape Cod.
Shirley is survived by her loving husband, Arni, married for 71 years. She leaves her son Michael Hanninen and wife Cheryl of Salem, N.H. and daughter Nancy Sheehan and partner Kenneth Lynch of Sandy Hook, CT. She had five granddaughters: Kelly Sheehan, Cynthia Shortridge, Chelsea, Mackenzie and Camryn Hanninen. Two grandsons: Christopher Sheehan and is predeceased by Colin Sheehan. Shirley also had four great-granddaughters: Cameron Sheehan and her mother Catherine Sheehan, Alexis Carpenter and Hannah and Sarah Baker, along with two great-grandsons, Jared Carpenter and Lucas Baker. She was predeceased by her sister Rita Johnson. Shirley also leaves her two nieces and one nephew: Jayne and Steve Johnson and Cindy Miragliotta.
Calling hours will be Monday Nov. 7th from 4-7 PM at the Kenneth H. Pollard Funeral Home, 233 Lawrence Street, Methuen, MA. Funeral services will be at 10 AM on Tuesday Nov. 8th at the funeral home, followed by a burial service at Elmwood Cemetery in Methuen.
In lieu of flowers, please make memorial donations to the charity of your choice.
For directions or to sign the online guestbook, please visit www.pollardfuneralhome.com. The Kenneth H. Pollard Funeral Home is honored to serve the Hanninen family.