Shirley was born February 11, 1929 in Norwich, CT, the daughter of the late Roy J. and Rose (Poyerd) Menders. She graduated as valedictorian in 1947 from N.F.A.. She married the late Eugene W. Courtney September 29, 1956. He passed away February 3, 2007.
She was employed by Southern New England Telephone Co., and in later years, was the hostess at the Sheraton Hotel and at the Isle of Rhodes in Uncasville.
Shirley was gracious and kind and was a friend to all who knew her. She loved to travel, was a lover of the arts and culture and was an avid UCONN women’s basketball fan.
Shirley is survived by her son John and his wife Lek, a grandson Flynn and a granddaughter Liana, all of Alexandria, Va., a special sister-in- law Claire Menders of Oakdale, a special aunt Marie Menders of W. Greenwich, RI, special nephew Walter Thoma and wife Sandy of Norwich, special godchild Cheryl Viens of Griswold and a godchild Mary Ellen Troland of New London and by many nieces and nephews.
In addition to her parents and husband, Shirley was predeceased by her sister Elaine Thoma and sister Dolores Viens and her husband Normand, by her brother Roy A. Menders, sister-in-law Mildred Vlaun, by a special godchild Lorna Caviggia, and by her nephew Scott Viens.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Johns Church, 22 Maple Ave, Uncasville on Wednesday, March 27, 2024 at 10 am, meeting directly at the Church. Burial will immediately follow in St. Mary’s Cemetery in New London.
To leave a message of condolence for Shirley’s family, please visit her memorial at www.labenskifuneralhome.com.
The Labenski Funeral Home, 107 Boswell Ave., is entrusted with arrangements.
COMPARTA UN OBITUARIO
v.1.11.1