I met my wife, Shirley's sister Ruth. in West Brookfield in1983; we married in 1987.

I was privileged to have met and come to know all of her sisters and brothers, with the exception of Claude, who had died in a automobile accident proir to that. 

The family I saw most frequently was Shirley's, who lived in nearby Thorndike. Her children were still in elementary school; a visit from them was sort of like a small tornado touching down; never a dull moment once the Wilk family had arrived; I loved it every time. We loved her husband, Rudy as well.

A number of years ago, Shirley accompanied Ruth and me when we drove to N ew Jersey to visit their sister Barbara; she was in the late stages of the cancer that ended her life. Ruth had warned me that Shirley, though she rode in the back seat, would be the driver. She lived up to the advance billing! I don't believe Shirley ever sat back and relaxed or took a nap throughout the whole trip. I was informed in advance of every stop light or road marker, not to mention the advice as to how to get to New Jersey. If I'd had more confidence in her driving skill, it would have made more sense for me to just let her take the wheel while I joined Ruth in the back seat.  

It was worth my momentary terror, however, to witness the three sisters together; the charm of the Whitman womenfolk. Later, I met their sister Claudia, a charmer and a force of nature as well. 

I'm grateful for having known and loved Shirley, I will always treasure the memories of the time we've

spent with her and her wonderful, lively and lovely family. 

Thank you for those memories, Shirley!

Loving you always,

Rob

One of my fondest memories of Aunt Shirley occurred at a chili cook-off we had been invited to at Ruth and Rob's West Brookfield home. There were many chili "snobs", with their custom-made chili powders, esoteric ingredients and arcane methods of preparation, in attendance all vying for first prize. Modest and unassuming Aunt Shirley also entered the contest. After all the concoctions were tasted, votes cast and tabulated, Aunt Shirley had won!

I went up to her after and asked her what her secret was. "Oh" she said, making one of her impish grins, "I took some canned chili and doctored it up."

Take that chili snobs!

Her sunshine will be missed. 

In the summer, we took swimming lessons at nearby Sandy pond. One day there was what may have been a Fourth of  July celebration and field day. Townfolk gathered at the beach for a day of picnics, athletics, and fun. The swimming teacher presented her star pupils in a brief exhibition. I was three years old, couldn't swim, and feared the waater to some extent. Shirley, aged five, had no fear at all. She was a little blonde charmer, chubby, rosy cheeked, with a constant smile upon her adorable face. (Named, as dozens of little girls then, after Shirley Temple.) I sat upon the sand, listening to the announcer informing the assembled crowd that five  year old Shirley Whitman was going to perform a dive from the highest board. She giggled her way to the platform and poisied for the dive as the crowd clapped encouragement. At that very moment, I decided that there was a terrible amount of sand inside my bathing suit, and I must of course remove the suit and run down to the water and carefully wash it out. It made sense to me. The crowd may have missed much of Shiirley's performance - a tiny tanned naked little girl seriously scrubbing her minute bathing suit was a momentary distraction. The swimming teacher snatched me from the water and lectured me on modesty and public nuduty as she pulled on my suit and returned me to my parents, who were not amused. Shirley, I'm told, assumed the cheers and laughter were for her, and sparkled for the remainder of the afternoon. I was handed a towel and told to sit down and be ashamed.

Shirley was my sister; we were the fourth and fifth of ourparents' brood of ten. Shirley was the first girl; she used to tell me she'd established a standard I'd better live up to. I hope I did.

We were lifelong friends, although we differed strongly in personality, temperament, and lifestyles. As youngsters, we performed popular and old-time songs in local minstrel shows together, learned to cook  by the time we could reach the kitchen counter, borrowed books by the dozen from the local Library, swam in Buzzell's Brook, and rode herd over five younger siblings, and led a rollicking, lively rural life. 

She'd shamelessly sneak into my room and steal the clothing I'd prepared for school the next day, for which I've never forgiven her. She'd appear unannounced with a gift of chocolates or special treats,  then stay to help eat them. But when I needed a friend or a helping hand, she'd appear, be there, be caring and loving for as long as I needed her. We were truly best friends, the forever kind.

I married young, she waited until Rudy Wilk came along. I immersed myself in family life; she seized every opportunity to travel, sample school, careers, any experience that appeared. She worked, she played, she read, she loved life, children, her family, and everyone she met, at school, at parties, in the supermarket, on the turnpike, anywhere, anytime. 

My husband, Rob, and I were grateful to have the opportunity to spend an afternon and evening with her recently. Shirley and I sat next to one another, holding hands, through an afternoon and evening. At Rob's request, we sang a couple of lines of our favorite song when we were aged ten and twelve "Put your arms around me honey,  hold me tight..."  We were still in harmony.

My memories of Shirley go back as far as I can remember. She was an amazing person. I can recall many times during high school when Shirl would take us all on days trips all over the place, from Pittsfield to Boston. I remember one year when an exchange student from Europe came over to spend a few weeks at River St. We must have traveled all of Massachusetts that summer to show him around.

I think many remember her from her time working on the MA Pike. But, prior to that, she was also a substitute teacher at Pathfinder Regional High School, where she was loved by both the students and staff. She knew that I hated taking the bus to school and would often give me a ride in the morning first to drop off Steve at the old high school, then on to Pathfinder. Those were great memories.

Shirley could also be very funny. After Steve and I graduated from High School, she would always tease us and tell us to "grow up, before it was too late" after we got ourselves into whatever crazy situation we found ourselves in at the time.

There are so many stories. We had a buddy serving down in Key West, Florida in the Navy. He called us up and said he was having an early lunch and just saw Shirley win a car on the Price is Right! He had no idea it had happened and saw it totally by chance. It was awesome and it led to a couple months of debating which showcase Shirl should have chosen to bid on!

Shirl will be greatly missed. 

My Mother in Law:

When I met my husband he and Hunter were living in his childhood home with Shirley. She quickly became just as much a part of my life as them. I very quickly started to call her “momma Shirley” because she just sort of immediately took me as part of her family. Shortly after we got married a little over a year ago, Steve and Hunter moved to our marital home. Very soon after that, it became apparent that Momma Shirley should not be home alone without us. I remember how I convinced her to come. “You stay with me, me and you go together…” And that was the truth….sometimes taking care of her was hard, but with us was exactly where she belonged. I wouldn’t trade that time we had with her, that time our son got to have with her for anything! I can honestly say that I love her exactly the same way I love my own mother, and for that love I am extremely grateful. One of the greatest privileges of my life has been loving, and caring for, and having Shirley Wilk as my mother in law, and having her as the grandmother to our little boy. We miss you momma Shirley.