Former resident, registered nurse
SUTTON — Shirley René (Bailey) Wendel, 90, of Sutton, formerly of Lynnfield, passed away on Friday, Aug. 15, in the Ichabod Washburn Hospice Residence, surrounded by loving family. Her husband of 46 years, predeceased her in 1992.
Shirley is survived by two sons, Robert Wendel and his wife Janet of Houston, Texas and James Wendel of Sanford, Maine; a daughter, Dr. Mary Wendel and her husband Dr. Mark DiStefano, with whom she lived in Sutton. She is also survived by seven grandchildren, Eren Wendel and her fiancé Andrew Ritter, Kristen Wendel Recker and her husband Eric, Jeanne Wendel Alley and her husband Jonathan, Mark DiStefano Jr. and his wife Jennifer, Michael DiStefano and his wife Laura, Matthew DiStefano and Lydia Majkowski; three great-grandchildren, Grace DiStefano, Carrick Alley and Harper DiStefano; nieces and nephews.
Shirley was born in Huntington, N.Y. and was the daughter of the late Burtis Byron and Katherine (LePoer) Bailey. She grew up on Long Island, later moving to the Boston area, settling in Lynnfield, before moving in with her daughter and son in law in 2006.
Shirley was a registered nurse, having done her nurse training at the prestigious Massachusetts General Hospital. She retired from Lynn Hospital. Shirley was a long-time active member of the Centre Congregational Church in Lynnfield, where she taught Sunday School and was an integral part of their “Bread and Roses” Group, a group that had a thrift shop to raise money to buy food for the poor.
Shirley loved gardening and music. Her greatest joy was her family and in recent years the births of her great-grandchildren; these young children ignited a smile on her face and deep within her soul.
A Funeral Service for Shirley was held on Thursday, Aug. 21 in Centre Congregational Church, 5 Summer St., Lynnfield. Interment in Puritan Lawn Memorial Park in Peabody. There were no calling hours. Mercadante Funeral Home and Chapel, Worcester, is honored to assist her family.
In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to the Ichabod Washburn Hospice Residence, 1183 Main St., Worcester MA 01603.
To leave a message for her family online, please visit www.mercadantefuneral.com.
