Shirlee B. Smith's Obituary
Katie, age 8: ?áMom, who is smarter ?Çô you or Daddy??á Shirlee:?á?á?á?á?á?á?á?á?á?á Your father is.?áHe married better than I did. ?á After a fantastic life and a very brief time of illness, Shirlee Beaupre Smith painlessly passed away on January 24, 2012, ?áat age 66.?áShe had been diagnosed with stage-four lung cancer on January 9.?áShe had not yet begun chemotherapy when her reduced lung capacity caused a heart arrhythmia that her body couldn?ÇÖt handle. ?á Shirlee loved with her whole heart and taught everyone she met to trust themselves to make the right decision (especially since she believed that there were no wrong decisions).?áShe listened and offered everything she had at all times ?Çô over a glass of wine, on the tennis court, in times of crisis, in times of joy.?á ?á Shirlee was born in Manchester, Connecticut on June 19, 1945 to parents Howard and Mildred Beaupre.?áShe, her older sister Barbara and younger brother Ray took care of each other and she treasured their friendship above all others for her entire life. ?á On June 14, 1974, Shirlee married Fred Smith at age 28 and then the fun really began.?áTogether they raised their two children Freddie and Katie, but let?ÇÖs face it, Mom did the heavy lifting.?áOver the years, people would marvel at their strong marriage and happy family, asking, ?Ç£What is your secret??Ç¥?áWithout batting an eye, they would answer, ?Ç£We laugh every day.?áThat?ÇÖs all there is to it.?Ç¥ ?á Shirlee liked to adopt new family members at every opportunity.?áEveryone from the meanest cat on the planet, to her children?ÇÖs friends, and even the odd tennis pro shared her home and had a place at the dinner table with the Smiths.?áShe took in and cared for the elderly and infirmed in her family, both Smith and Beaupre alike. Often her velvet voice, smiling face and warm hand were the final comfort as loved ones passed away.?áShe joked, in her not so humble way, that she would be up for sainthood.?áLooking back, this is not such a far-fetched idea ?á Nothing made Shirlee happier than her children?ÇÖs success and happiness, that is until her granddaughter Madison Alma Smith was born.?áWhen her son Freddie introduced her to her future daughter-in-law Marie Phelps, it was love at first sight.?áShe was the first to hear when Carl Geiken proposed to her daughter Katie and, loving every minute of it, she poured everything she had into the plans for their big day.?á ?á The Golden Lovelies, Shirlee?ÇÖs tennis team?ÇÖs motto is, ?Ç£Play hard. Get lunch.?Ç¥ That pretty much sums up her approach to everything.?áPleas join us to celebrate Shirlee and everything she gave us. ?á What:?á?á?á?á?á?á?á?á?á?á?á?á Celebrating Shirlee.?áThis is a party not a memorial. Come to hear and share some great stories about a great woman. ?á Where:?á?á?á?á?á?á?á?á?á?á The Lodge at Heritage Palms When:?á?á?á?á?á?á?á?á?á?á?á Saturday, January 28, 2012 ?á?á?á?á?á?á?á?á?á?á?á?á?á?á?á?á?á?á?á?á?á?á?á 1:00 p.m. to ? Dress:?á?á?á?á?á?á?á?á?á?á?á Casual.?áPlease come as you are. Who:?á?á?á?á?á?á?á?á?á?á?á?á?á Anyone who knows Shirlee and Fred ?á Appetizers and dessert lovingly provided by her close friends.?á The drinks are on Fred so come thirsty. ?á In lieu of flowers, please bring donations in the form of a check or canned goods for the Harry Chapin Food Bank or donate online at www.harrychapinfoodbank.org. ?á See you on Saturday!
What’s your fondest memory of Shirlee?
What’s a lesson you learned from Shirlee?
Share a story where Shirlee's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Shirlee you’ll never forget.
How did Shirlee make you smile?