Shirley Louise (Armstrong) Russell

Shirley Louise (Armstrong) Russell, of Norton, formerly of Needham, passed away on Friday, March 1, 2019 at Wingate of Norton. She was 88 years old. Born May 7th, 1930 in Boston, she was the daughter of Richard Earl Armstrong and Gertrude Helen Sweeney.  She lived in Wellesley in her early years and in a few towns surrounding Needham and for a short time lived in Lawrence and Derry, NH. She married Walter William Russell October 4th 1960. Shirley and Walter divorced in September 1983.  Shirley continued to reside in Needham and befriended Paul J. Wasak and cared for him until he passed away in October 1988. Shirley had a passion for discipline. She enjoyed being a home body where she enjoyed making her home comfy. Shirley enjoyed doing crafts, sewing, crocheting, needlepoint and gardening. She made homemade preserves with her garden bounty. Shirley like to read and enjoyed walking all over Needham daily even more than a few times a day when she felt good.   Shirley moved to Norton in the Spring of 2012, where she lived out the rest of her years at Wingate at Norton. Shirley leaves behind her daughter Karen Louise (Russell) Whitaker, and her husband Howard Paul “Rusty” Whitaker Jr. of Mansfield and her grandchildren; Lacey Anne Whitaker, Howard Paul Whitaker 3rd and Sandra Evelyn Whitaker, all Mansfield. She was the sister of the late Theodore Armstrong.  Also survived by her nieces Carol M. Rossi of Wareham and Lois B. DiMase of Littleton.  A Funeral Service will be held in the Eaton Funeral Home, 1351 Highland Ave, Needham, on Friday, March 8th at 11:30 am. Relatives and friends are kindly invited. Visitation will be held on Friday morning from 10 – 11:30 prior to the service. Interment at Needham Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations in Shirley’s name may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association 309 Waverley Oaks Rd, Waltham, MA 02452.

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