Shirley A. (Fitzgerald) Hunter

Shirley A. Hunter, 84, of West Island in Fairhaven, formerly of Norton, passed away on Saturday, August 1, 2020 peacefully at her home with family close by after a long battle with cancer. Shirley was born in Attleboro on April 30, 1936, the only child of John F. and Rose E. (McGann) Fitzgerald and was raised in Norton. She attended public schools in Norton and graduated from Norton High School in 1954 and was a communicant of St. Mary’s Church in Norton for most of her life. She married Herbert H. Hunter on June 1, 1957 and together they shared 63 years of love and family life. Shirley worked for Metals and Controls Division of Texas Instruments, at St. Mary’s Church office and rectory in Norton, and as a teacher’s aide in Norton Public Schools. She finished her employment career as the postal supervisor at Balfour Hood Post Office at Wheaton College until her retirement. Shirley and Herbie bought their cottage on West Island in 1974 and enjoyed decades of friendship and adventure with their children and grandchildren. It became their year-round home and they attended St. Joseph Church in Fairhaven. They were active members and officers of West Island Improvement Association and humbly dedicated themselves to keeping it a beautiful place for making memories. Shirley was a past president several times of WIIA and in 2019 became one of the three first annual wall of fame honorees of WIIA. In recent winters she and Herbie spent cherished time in Melbourne, Florida with snowbird friends from all over North America. Their family attended the Daytona 500 for most of the past 40 years as well. Among Shirley’s hobbies were sewing, playing cribbage and dancing; she was a member of the Red Hat Society as well. Her home was always welcoming to all. Shirley’s spirit of joy and youthful energy impressed people of all ages and being in her presence was a blessing to all who had the chance to call her FRIEND. She will be greatly missed by all who knew her, the family she has left and the friends fortunate to have known her. Peace and prayers to Shirley. It is difficult to capture her essence in mere words, this world is a better place because of her life being such a gift to us all. All are welcome to share condolences and  memories with her husband Herbie, her daughter Donna and her husband David Curelop, her son John and his wife Laurie Hebert-Hunter, her grandchildren Brady Curelop, Cody Curelop and his fiancée Leah Goulet, Christopher Hunter, Devan Hunter and Kaylin Hebert. Per Shirley’s wishes, her burial is private.  Shirley’s family thanks all the friends who cared through the past difficult two years and encourage all to celebrate Shirley’s life and memory. In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Shirley A. Hunter may be made to Community Nurse Home Care, 62 Center St. Fairhaven MA 02719 www.communitynurse.com in honor of the wonderful care Shirley was given in these past months or to WIIA Inc., 41 Causeway Road, Fairhaven MA 02719 in honor of her service to the organization.

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