Shirley (Richer) Boucher, a lifelong resident of Worcester, formerly of Farm Street, Worcester, passed away on Monday, April 16th surrounded by her family. Shirley’s husband of 56 years, Richard C. “Dick” Boucher, predeceased her in August 2002. She leaves two sons, Richard P. Boucher, wife Deborah, grandchildren, Jessica and Daniel of Westborough. Also, James M. Boucher, wife Kristen, granddaughters Kara and Nicole of Hartford, CT. Shirley leaves two daughters, Jean E. Boucher of Westborough and Susan A. Montiverdi; grandchildren David, Andrew and Megan of Worcester and their father Gerald Montiverdi. Shirley leaves a sister, Carol Bonder and her husband Zygmunt of Worcester, a brother, Joseph Richer of Dorchester and wife Frances, and sister-in-law Maureen Richer of West Palm Beach, FL. Two brothers, George Richer and Robert and wife Joan Richer and a sister, Helen Richer, predeceased her. She leaves many nieces and nephews from the Richer and Maine families, including Bowler cousins Mary Ellen Mahoney of Falmouth, Paul Reardon of Florida and Barbara Hannon of Vermont, a sister-in-law Hope and predeceased husband Dick Dougherty, sister-in-law Vivian and husband Phil Brown, and Richer cousin, Sheila Garvey.
Shirley graduated from St. Peter’s High School in 1947 and married the love of her life, Dick, in 1948. Shirley worked at HE Shaw, Crompton & Knowles and Wyman-Gordon before embarking on her passion and lasting legacy in life, her family. She worked at the polls over 50 years and was a true Democrat. She was part of the first lunch lady program at Mill Swan School and was a Sales Associate at Zayre’s Department store for several years. Shirley worked at the Worcester Police Department and retired as a Principal Clerk in 2012 after 35 years. Shirley practiced a daily devotion to God, a reverence for the Blessed Mother Mary, prayed through the Holy Rosary and Divine Mercy Chaplet and served as a Eucharistic Minister at St. Charles Borromeo Roman Catholic Church. Shirley will be fondly remembered as someone genuinely interested and caring in other people’s stories and lives.
Shirley wishes to acknowledge the wonderful care by her doctor, Demosthenes K. Agiomavritis, MD and his staff as well as Eileen and Mariana of Worcester. Also, Shirley wishes to express appreciation to her devoted and loving caregivers, Jean Boucher and Susan Montiverdi. Heartfelt gratitude includes the wonderful care given to Shirley by VNA Care Hospice & Palliative Care of Worcester especially Sandy, Sharon, Kim and Cara.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, June 9th in St. Peter Church, 929 Main Street additional details will follow at a later date. Burial will be private in Worcester County Memorial Park, Paxton at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Shirley’s memory to support patient care to (please indicate to VNA Hospice and Palliative Care, Worcester) at VNA Care Fund Development, 199 Rosewood Drive, Suite 180, Danvers, MA 01923 or via www.vnacare.org.