Shirley R. Croft, 86

MONTAGUE - Shirley R. (Sherman) Croft, 86, of Green River Road died peacefully at home on Wednesday evening, September 9, 2020 with family by her side. She was born in Scotstown, Quebec, Canada on July 9, 1934, the daughter of William Floyde and Isabel (Cota) Sherman.

Shirley spent most of her younger years living in Scotstown, and the surrounding area. Some of her fondest memories of her days there included picking wild raspberries for her birthday cake, horse and buggy/sleigh rides to school with her siblings, and stories of her grandfather building the Scotstown Hotel.

In 1953, after attending a few years of high school in Scotstown, she moved to Boston to live with family and graduated from Roslindale High School in 1954. After school, she worked at John Hancock Insurance in downtown Boston.

While attending a dance with friends, Shirley met a dreamy man named Bruce Croft, and they were married in 1957. A year later they had their first child, Warren, then Jeffery and Wanda. Throughout their 60 years of marriage, they lived in many places including Londonderry, NH; Hopkinton, Upton, Uxbridge and South Yarmouth, MA; Derby Line, VT and finally Montague, MA. In each of their homes, Shirley expressed her joy for decorating and making a house a home for her family.

Shirley, and Bruce, happily served their parishes over the years including Immanuel Chapel, Upton, MA; Christ Chapel, Centerville, MA; and Gill Church, Gill, MA.

Among her survivors, Shirley leaves a son, Jeffrey Croft and his wife Miia (Talviharju) Croft of Venice, FL; a daughter, Wanda (Croft) Mauran and her husband Rick of Greenfield, MA; four grandchildren: Jennifer Croft of Monticello, IN; Siira (Talviharju) Burns (Ryan Burns) of Venice FL; Jeffrey Croft, and Aniika Croft all of Venice, FL; and a great-grandson, Logan Johnson. In addition, many nephews and nieces.

Besides her beloved husband, William Bruce Croft (February 2018), Shirley was predeceased by her oldest son Warren Croft (November 2007); her siblings, Jeannie Sherman of Montreal, June (Sherman) Moller of Montreal and Michael Sherman of Milan, Quebec, Canada.

There will be a receiving of family and friends in memory of Shirley on Saturday, September 19, 2020 from 11:00-1:00pm at Immanuel Chapel, 38 Hopkinton Road, Upton, MA 01568 (508) 529-4468. She did not admire the color black. To honor and celebrate Shirley’s life, please consider wearing her favorite colors of blue, yellow and white.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial contribution may be made in Shirley’s name to Alzheimer’s Association: www.alz.org or by mail Alzheimer’s Association, 225 N. Michigan Ave., Floor 17, Chicago, IL 60601.

Arrangements are under the direction of the Kostanski Funeral Home. For condolences, please visit www.kostanskifuneralhome.com.