Shirley A. Wilk (née Whitman) of Palmer, Massachusetts, died peacefully surrounded by family on December 15th, 2023. Born on November 16th, 1932, she lived 91 beautiful years with her close friends and family nearby. Shirley was preceded in death by her husband Rudolph Bernard Wilk and seven brothers and sisters. She is survived by her four children Sheila Eldredge, Sharon Mitchell, Rudy Wilk and his wife Sandy, and Steven Wilk and his wife Sarah Camerota-Wilk, seven grandchildren Kara Andrade, Jacelyn Brodeur, Michael Mitchell, Mikayla Qualls, Stephanie Snow, Celine Smith and Hunter Wilk, three great grandchildren Eli Andrade, Brooks Brodeur and Reese Brodeur, two sisters, Claudia and Ruth, and several nieces and nephews.

Shirley was a joyful and bright woman who had a deep love for her family, listening to country music, reading the newspaper, and making everyone she encountered smile.

As a toll booth collector for the Massachusetts Turnpike for many years, she loved listening to stories from travelers near and far. She had an open door policy for friends and family alike, and along with spending time with loved ones, her greatest hobbies included baking cookies/eating tuna fish sandwiches with her grandchildren, spending winters in Florida and reliving beautiful memories.

Shirley will be remembered for her warm heart, her delicious strawberry shortcake, and for giving Bob Barker the biggest hug after winning a car on the Price is Right in 1993. She will be deeply missed by all who knew her.

A funeral mass will be held in her honor on Thursday January 4th at 1:30pm at St Mary’s Church in Ware Ma. There will be a celebration of Shirley’s life with a formal internment, where she will join her pre-deceased husband, laid together in eternal rest, at the National Cemetery in Bourne Ma, at a later date.

This beautiful statement on her Grammy’s life was written by Shirley’s granddaughter Jackie. 

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