On Thursday, September 20, 2012, my mother Shirley Marie (Staples) Turner of 6 Cromesett Road, Wareham MA passed away at the age of 79, while under the care of the Bourne Manor Extended Care facility in Bourne MA.  This site is in her memory. 

Mom fought throat and lung cancer for 2 years before being briefly admitted to Bourne Manor on Friday, September 14th.  Billy, John and myself are very thankful and glad, that Mom did not suffer too much before she passed.  We are eternally grateful to her friends and neighbors in Wareham, especially Doris McAloney and Maureen Coughlin who helped care for mom, and helped insure that she was able to stay in her apartment for over 13 years.  Mom always used to say: Now that I am all moved into my apartment, the only way I am leaving this place is in a box!  Well, she almost made it that way.  We love you mom and we miss you!

Shirley was born to Agnes White of Stoughton MA and Robert ‘Harry’ Staples of Maine on December 27, 1932.  Shirley grew up in Stoughton MA with her parents and older sister Dorothy (Staples) Abril, and her younger sister Leona Staples. Some of Shirley’s fondest memories were the summers they spent at her grandparent’s cottage at Swifts Beach in Wareham MA.  It is these memories that prompted her to eventually move to Wareham after her husband passed away to purchase a home, and to eventually move to an apartment only about a mile from Swifts Beach after she retired.

Shirley graduated from Stoughton High School in 1951.  Over the years, Shirley worked at wide variety of businesses including a dry cleaners, various restaurants, and the school district for Wrentham, Norfolk and Plainville MA, and at Rudy’s Chick N’ Chips restaurant in Wrentham while her children still were attending school.  Shirley most enjoyed jobs that allowed her to help friends, socialize a little, and remain active. 

Shirley, along with her husband Douglas were ongoing members of the American Legion in Wrentham MA where they made many friends and helped with a variety of community fundraisers along with marching in numerous Memorial Day parade celebrations. After moving to Wareham, Shirley became a member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles.

After her husband Douglas James Turner passed away on December 3, 1976, Shirley began working at her favorite place, the Lake Pearl Ballroom in Wrentham MA.  Located just down the street from where she continued to live with her two children Gary and Cathy, Shirley would work at Lake Pearl for over 34 years before finally retiring in 2009 at the age of 76. Shirley continued to make new friends while working at Lake Pearl as well as having a chance to see old friends who attended various weddings and other events held at the Lake Pearl Ballroom.

Shirley is survived by her only son Gary Douglas Turner, his partner John Joseph Molnar both of Hayward CA; and her daughter Catherine Lee Turner’s partner of 15 years William Ross Peters of Wareham MA.  Shirley is also survived by her younger sister Leona Staples’ two daughters Rose Marie Staples Cohan of Revere MA, and Irene Staples of Nashua NH, and Shirley’s older sister Dorothy Staples Abril and her husband Francis Abril of Ocala FL, their children James F. Abril of Dennis MA, Laureen Abril of New Jersey, Loretta Abril of Stoughton MA, and Michael Abril of Lyyn MA and several.

May you rest in peace Mom.

We love you and miss you.

Sympathy cards can be mailed to:

    Gary D. Turner and John J. Molnar

    24276 Broadmore Avenue

    Hayward, CA 94544-1118

or

    William R. Peters

    67 Heather Trail

    Wareham, MA 02571