The beloved matriarch of her family
MELROSE — Shirley C. (Norton) Meredith, of Melrose, died peacefully on March 23, 2022, at the age of 97. Shirley was born in Malden to Dennet and Mabel (Velmure) Norton. As a child, she lost her father early, and her family pulled together to raise and care for her and her sister Ruth, which instilled the importance of family to them.
Through her younger years Shirley was a Brownie and then a Girl Scout, and eventually a graduate of Melrose High School.
After the war broke out, the British light cruiser, the HMS Newfoundland, docked for repairs after being torpedoed, bringing her soon to be husband Kenneth Meredith with it, who spotted her one day and immediately pursued her, ultimately winning her heart. Before the ship returned to the seas, they were married, and then honeymooned on Lake Winnipesaukee during a future leave.
Shortly after having their first daughter, Susan, Shirley traveled to Kenneth’s home country of Wales on the Queen Elizabeth II as a war bride, staying with his family for just under two years, and cementing them all as a true part of her own family. Shirley returned to the US to help her mother Mabel with a health emergency, and over the next years had two more daughters, Christine and Deborah, bought Kenneth out of the service, and obtained him sponsorship so he could immigrate and begin working in construction labor.
Shirley was a big supporter of the British Embassy soccer team, rooting on Kenneth as he played, and later they came to work for United-Carr Fastener, and enjoyed many memories relaxing at Foxys after work.
Shirley enjoyed hosting Kenneth’s family in 1964 as his sister Joan visited from Wales, and then in 1965 took her entire family overseas to meet the rest of the family together. This was the first of many travels, seeing places such as Italy, Scotland, England, Ireland, Austria, Germany, France and Switzerland. Shirley also enjoyed spending summers in Maine, something she continued to enjoy later in life, bringing grandchildren on trips to York Beach, or just drives up the coast.
Shirley would often play cards, and was a quiet woman, at times shy, and at other times would speak her mind clearly and bluntly, once she had decided on something. After her daughter Christine was married, Shirley would often travel with her family to their home in Quebec, Canada, where she would watch Kenneth enjoy mowing the lawn. Eventually Christine’s family would move in to care for Shirley and Kenneth through various health issues, and Shirley would love taking part in family birthday parties and holiday hosting for her children and grandchildren (especially the dessert!).
She enjoyed taking part in the monthly Family Lunch trips that developed later in life, along with attending her great grandchildren’s birthday parties, and spent her final years residing in Oosterman’s Rest Home.
Shirley died peacefully on March 23, 2022, at the age of 97, the beloved matriarch of her family, having achieved the American Dream of finding love, owning her own home, and raising a beautiful family. She was the beloved wife of the late Kenneth B. Meredith. Loving mother of the late Susan Treasure and her late husbands Michael and Thomas, the late Christine Meredith and her husband, Dr. Denny Meredith, of Melrose and Deborah Porter and her late husband, Floyd, of Chelsea. Cherished grandmother of Mandy Piscitelli and her husband, Frank Piscitelli III, Esq., of Millbury; David Treasure and his wife, Joanna, of Wales; Laura Treasure of Wales, Jonathan Meredith of Melrose, Nicholas Porter of Seattle, WA, and Eric Meredith of Melrose. Proud great-grandmother of Kayla, Thomas, Emily and Matthew. Sister of the late Ruth Norton. Sister-in-law of the late Elwin Meredith, the late Derek Meredith and his wife, Jeannette, of Wales and the late Joan Dash and her husband, Anthony, of Wales. Aunt of Jayne, Gareth, Michelle, and Geraint. Also survived by many cousins.
Funeral services will be private. Memorial contributions may be made in Shirley’s name to the Salvation Army at www.salvationarmyusa.org/usn/ or to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation at www.bcrf.org/. To leave an online message of condolence please visit gatelyfh.com.
