Shirley A. Fleming

October 9, 2022

On Sunday, October 9, 2022, Shirley A. Fleming, loving wife and mother of two, passed away at home in Branford surrounded by her family. Shirley was born in Wallingford CT on January 21, 1947 to Frank and Jean (Dreissen) Ferry. Shirley attended local Wallingford schools and graduated from the University of Connecticut with a degree in education. In 1968 she married Bob Fleming. Together they had two sons, Sean and Mark Fleming.

Shirley worked as a teacher in Cheshire and Haddam and also as an operations manager for an electronics company in California. When the boys were born Shirley transitioned to homemaker, and then returned to work as an aide in the Guilford school system. Before retiring in 2004 Shirley worked in a real estate office. By far, she felt her most important work was as wife and mother. She loved nothing more than being in the middle of a busy household with the children and their friends, and a string of adoring cats and dogs. Given her sweet, patient and gentle way, she was naturally a very good homemaker.

After an overly challenging hike in Yosemite National Park in the ‘70s she committed to better fitness habits that enabled her to hike throughout the rest of her life and travel the world. She hiked with her close friends in the White Mountains, Ireland, and France. The many trails in the shoreline area were constant companions. She and Bob became regulars, along with their dogs, at the Timberlands trails in Guilford, which was a special favorite. They all enjoyed the varied terrain and the calming effect of the forest.

Shirley and Bob traveled extensively but their favorite trips were to American national parks often tied into trips to California to visit son Mark.

Shirley was proud to have raised such amazing children. Sean, his wife Sam and Mark have been wonderfully supportive over the five years since her cancer diagnosis. A labor of love for them. Their effort was truly needed and appreciated.

Shirley made many great friends in book clubs and mahjong groups, as well as in a gourmet group of 35 years.

Shirley leaves behind, Bob, her devoted and loving husband of 54 years; sons Mark and Sean; daughterin-law Samantha; cousins Gary (Maria) Dreissen of Wallingford, Karen Bilinski of Dana Point, CA, also cousin Gert Sieben (Pierre); beloved aunt Nanny Dreissen and her sons Roger (Aimee) and Rachel (Suzanne) deGelder all of Limburg, The Netherlands, as well as other cousins and relatives throughout Europe.

The family will be forever grateful to the wonderful nurses and doctors at Smilow Cancer Hospital for the life extending treatments and compassionate care Shirley received there. The family also wants to thank Masonicare Hospice and Visiting Angels staff for the help in making Shirley’s last days comfortable. Most of all, the family is thankful for the many friends and relatives who have made Shirley’s life’s journey one filled with love.

A memorial to honor and remember Shirley will be held on October 22 from 12 noon to 3 PM at the Guilford Funeral Home, 115 Church St., Guilford, CT. In lieu of flowers, Shirley would love donations to be sent to Connecticut Humane Society, 701 Russell Rd., Newington, CT 06111, www.cthumane. org To share a memory or leave condolences, visit www.guilfordfuneralhome. com