Shirley Marliene Abell

Shirley Marliene (Aldrich) Abell of Concord, NC went home to her heavenly Father on Tuesday, December 17, 2024 from complications of Alzheimer’s. Greg and Mark were holding her hands and gave her permission to go be at peace with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and all her loved ones who preceded her in death.

Shirley was born December 3, 1935 in St. Albans, VT to Clarence and Laura (Rich) Aldrich. She was one of nine children.

She graduated from BFA-St. Albans in 1953 where she was a proud member of the BFA Comets undefeated girls’ basketball team. At school assemblies, a handsome upper classman caught her eye. She apparently caught his eye, too, because three weeks after her high school graduation in June, she was off to Virginia to elope with James Abell who was in the Navy and stationed there. In 1955, after Jim’s discharge from service, they moved back to Vermont with their 1 year old daughter. They lived in St. Albans for three years where a son joined their little family before moving to Milton, VT. They had a house built on Lake Arrowhead. Another daughter and three more sons completed their now big family! Shirley was a devoted and loving wife and mother who loved her husband and all of her children, their partners, grandchildren and great-grandchildren unconditionally. We are a blessed family due in large part to her great faith, love, hope and prayers. She was a mighty prayer warrior!

Shirley had many wonderful friends in Milton. Together they had many adventures and much fun. J.C. Wives Club, a short-lived seasonal job picking apples, making baked beans, bread, and apple pies at the annual St. Ann’s Church bazaar, talking for hours on the phone and Friday night grocery shopping with Rose, “Hunting Widows” wine parties during deer season, group Christmas shopping excursions with dinner at Bove’s, opening up a Montgomery Wards mail order franchise with Carole, Bible studies with Susan, more hours of talking on the phone with Jeanette. Rose, Carole, Jeanette and Shirley had matching “Golden Friend” sweatshirts and green tie-dyed tee shirts that they wore to take pictures of themselves in whenever they got to spend time together.

In 1983, because of physical challenges for Jim during Vermont winters, Shirley and Jim transferred with IBM to North Carolina for their next phase of life. They had a beautiful house built in Concord, this time on a large pond. This house became a haven for many friends and family who needed a temporary place to live for one reason or another. It was rare when it was just the two of them living there for any long stretch of time. They loved North Carolina but missed their children and were much happier when three of their sons moved down to be closer to them. That made all the difference.

Shirley made many more friends in North Carolina and she again got involved in many activities – Newcomers Club, Women’s Aglow, prayer meetings. She became a Eucharistic Minister at her church and also brought Communion to shut-ins. She and Jim bought into a time share which they were rarely using together so Shirley and three of her sisters started having “Sisters’ Week” all over the eastern United States and Hawaii!

After Jim died in 2003, Shirley and her children and grandchildren spent a few weeks on Lake Champlain together for 10 summers. Family BBQs, maple creemees, drives into Canada where she had such fond memories of going as a child, experiencing St. Anne’s Shrine in Isle La Motte, picking up heart shaped rocks, going to the tie-dye shop, visits with friends were all precious to her. She so loved and looked forward to coming back to Vermont for a month in the summer and another month in November.

Eighty-nine years hold a lot of memories and it’s difficult to pinpoint all of them here in this small space.

Shirley was preceded in death by her parents, her husband of 50 years, James Abell, son James Abell, daughter Kathleen Bonfigli, son-in-law Daniel Bonfigli, grandson Cory Abell, brothers Vincent and Boyd Aldrich, sisters Teresa Aldrich, Margaret Morgan, and Lucille Brown.

Surviving and grieving her are: Her children: Kimberly and husband Daniel Nicasio, Stephen and wife Rita Abell, Gregory and wife Karen Abell, Mark and wife Jill Abell. Her grandchildren: Bethany Thompson, Trevor (Leslie) Thompson, Alexandra Nicasio (Jesse Jacobs), Gabriel Nicasio (Kiana Jensen), Kristopher Abell, Melissa (Patrick) Hartis, Ryan (Jamie) Abell, Dustin (Melissa) Abell, Logan (Suraya) Abell, Shyanna Abell (Garrett St. Pierre), Gabriela Bonfigli (Charles Hutchinson), Dylan Abell, Sarah (Jaiden) Lindsey, Zachary (Katelyn) Abell, Nickolas (Elizabeth) Abell. Her great-grandchildren: Chance, Shea, Kaiden, Liam, and Lincoln O’Connor, Cole and Maisie Thompson, Ada James Jacobs, Lily and Nathan Hartis, Carter, Keghan, Braydon, and Mia Rose Abell, Charlie, Amelia, Declan, and Scarlett Abell, Vivian Abell, Alistair Abell, Milo and Cyrus Lindsey, and Jack Abell.

ALL BECAUSE TWO PEOPLE FELL IN LOVE!!!

Also surviving her: Her sisters, Dorothy Dussault and Joan Pauley, her brother, John Aldrich, former daughters-in-law Vickie Thompson, Lynda Unwin and Phyllis Abell, former son-in-law Steven Thompson, and numerous nieces and nephews. She loved and was loved.

A very special thank you to Paula Silvia who moved into Shirley’s house to watch over her. This allowed her one more year in her beloved home.

Visiting hours will be at St. James Catholic Church in Concord, NC on Monday, January 6th from 9:30-10:45 followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Coltrane LIFE Center, 321 Corban Ave SE, Concord, NC 28025 or St. James Catholic Church, 139 Manor Ave SW, Concord, NC 28025

Hartsell Funeral Home of Concord is serving the Abell family.