Shirley Frances (Park) Robitaille of New Bedford, MA passed away peacefully at St. Luke’s Hospital on Friday, May 22, 2020.
Born in New Bedford on July 31, 1924, Shirley was the daughter of the late Winfred Prentice Park and Nellie May (Cleary) Park. A life-long resident of New Bedford, Shirley and her husband Robert L. Robitaille Sr. (Bob) met at the Star Store where she worked as a transcriptionist for the store buyers and Bob operated the White sewing machine franchise. They married in 1951 and raised their family in the home they shared for 63 years in New Bedford’s North End.
Shirley was a graduate of New Bedford High School where she studied secretarial sciences. She raised her children and then returned to the work force as a transcriptionist, eventually retiring from READS Collaborative in Middleboro, MA at the age of 82.
Shirley was a talented craftswoman and enjoyed braiding rugs and sewing, particularly beautiful doll clothing and quilts that are treasured by her family and will be passed down through generations to come. She enjoyed ski trips with the family, days at Horseneck Beach, summer cookouts with extended family and friends, and spending time with her grandchildren. Shirley loved to visit the casinos and over the years made many trips with her siblings. Four-generation Friday outings with her daughter, granddaughter and great grandsons for shopping and lunch were very special to her.
An independent spirit at heart, Shirley was a generous and loving woman, always there to support and care for the people she loved. To eat a meal at Shirley’s table was something special. She poured her heart and soul into every family dinner she hosted, too many to count over the years. While her kitchen was small, and we were elbow-to-elbow at the table, there was an abundance of delicious homemade dishes, great conversation and always room for one more.
Shirley lived her life with a positive attitude and an appreciation for the things in life that matter most. She was a loyal friend and a wonderful example to all of us who looked up to her. She had an amazing laugh and hilarious sense of humor. She made so many people smile, and we will all miss her so much.
Shirley was the widow of Robert Laurier Robitaille Sr. She is survived by her four children, Patricia Welsh and her husband James of South Dartmouth, MA, Jeanne Galipeau and her husband Donald of Orrington, ME, Robert Jr. and his wife Jill of Concord, MA, and James of New Bedford, MA. She is also survived by her sister Winifred Thatcher of Plymouth, MA, seven grandchildren- Jeanne Paradise, Katherine Welsh, Andrea Bent, Andrew Galipeau, Neil Galipeau, Peter Robitaille, Sarah Robitaille and five great-grandchildren– William Paradise, Finnegan Paradise, MaddilynGalipeau, Marian Bent and Quincy Bent, as well as many nieces and nephews. Shirley was predeceased by her sister Barbara Jameson and her brother Walter Park.
Services will be held at a date to be decided.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to The Multiple Sclerosis Society of New England, 101A 1st Ave., #6, Waltham, MA 02451.