Obituary for Shirley May Finn
Shirley May Finn, 89, entered eternal life with the Lord on Saturday, March 13, 2021, surrounded by her loving family at home. She was born Shirley May Hanscom in Portsmouth, New Hampshire to the late Lincoln Walker and Addie May (Wilson) Hanscom. In addition to her parents, she was also predeceased by her beloved son Peter D. Finn. Left to cherish her memory are her beloved daughters, Cynthia J. Sherron and her husband Michael, of Norfolk, VA, Lauren May Hutchins and her husband Greg, of Norfolk, VA, Pamela S. Echols of Memphis, TN, and Cheryl A. Savage and her husband Paul, of Westerly, RI. Beloved and treasured grandchildren are Elizabeth Sherron, Liam Sherron, Peter Pascoe, Colin Pascoe, Adam Pascoe, Dane Pascoe, Katie Echols Pillow, Jordan Echols and Justin Finn. She also leaves to her legacy ten great-grandchildren (with more certain to come.) She leaves many loved nephews and nieces.
Shirley graduated from Portsmouth High School in New Hampshire, class of 1950. She worked at Wentworth By the Sea Hotel in Newcastle, NH and as a bookkeeper for Montgomery Ward until she got married. She loved everything New England and also loved to travel. She lived in California to be near family as grandchildren grew, and then Virginia, as family relocated to Norfolk with the military. She was a constant presence, helper, source of support, mentor, listening ear, cheerful heart, and constant and true friend to her children, grandchildren and to all those who knew her. She loved the Lord, her family, attending church, attending her grandchildren’s many choral and orchestra concerts, violin and piano recitals, baseball and softball games and school awards ceremonies and graduations. She enjoyed knitting, reading, Big Band music and dancing, cooking (best gravy), welcoming and loving the many family pets the children and grandchildren brought home, visiting the beach and ocean, playing cards (Rummy) with family, and doing crosswords and wordsearch. Her most favorite thing was to spend time with family. She was a true Patriot who loved her country. Shirley grew up in the church in Portsmouth, NH, where her adoring mother Addie Hanscom was organist. Shirley’s four brothers all served in the U.S. Army during WWII, and Shirley helped her mother with walking the neighborhood for evening bomb shelter and lights out drills. She loved watching baseball, especially the Boston Red Sox. She was fiercely intelligent, humble and generous. In earlier years, she volunteered at Sunday school and at local elementary schools as a reading helper. Everyone who knew Shirley would remark on her sweet and kind personality. She was truly beautiful inside and out. Her laughter and love and goodness will be sorely missed, but family and friends take comfort knowing she is in God’s presence until we all meet again. We will share a good cup of coffee together again someday. We give thanks to God for such an amazing and loving mother, grandmother and friend.
The family is inviting friends to pay respects Tuesday, March 23, 2021 from 10am-4pm at Graham Funeral Home, 1112 Kempsville Rd. Chesapeake. A funeral ceremony to celebrate her life will be held Wednesday, March 24, 2021 at 11am at the funeral home with burial to follow in Forest Lawn Cemetery, Norfolk. For those unable to attend in person, the service will be webcast at www.grahamfuneralhome.com .
Shirley graduated from Portsmouth High School in New Hampshire, class of 1950. She worked at Wentworth By the Sea Hotel in Newcastle, NH and as a bookkeeper for Montgomery Ward until she got married. She loved everything New England and also loved to travel. She lived in California to be near family as grandchildren grew, and then Virginia, as family relocated to Norfolk with the military. She was a constant presence, helper, source of support, mentor, listening ear, cheerful heart, and constant and true friend to her children, grandchildren and to all those who knew her. She loved the Lord, her family, attending church, attending her grandchildren’s many choral and orchestra concerts, violin and piano recitals, baseball and softball games and school awards ceremonies and graduations. She enjoyed knitting, reading, Big Band music and dancing, cooking (best gravy), welcoming and loving the many family pets the children and grandchildren brought home, visiting the beach and ocean, playing cards (Rummy) with family, and doing crosswords and wordsearch. Her most favorite thing was to spend time with family. She was a true Patriot who loved her country. Shirley grew up in the church in Portsmouth, NH, where her adoring mother Addie Hanscom was organist. Shirley’s four brothers all served in the U.S. Army during WWII, and Shirley helped her mother with walking the neighborhood for evening bomb shelter and lights out drills. She loved watching baseball, especially the Boston Red Sox. She was fiercely intelligent, humble and generous. In earlier years, she volunteered at Sunday school and at local elementary schools as a reading helper. Everyone who knew Shirley would remark on her sweet and kind personality. She was truly beautiful inside and out. Her laughter and love and goodness will be sorely missed, but family and friends take comfort knowing she is in God’s presence until we all meet again. We will share a good cup of coffee together again someday. We give thanks to God for such an amazing and loving mother, grandmother and friend.
The family is inviting friends to pay respects Tuesday, March 23, 2021 from 10am-4pm at Graham Funeral Home, 1112 Kempsville Rd. Chesapeake. A funeral ceremony to celebrate her life will be held Wednesday, March 24, 2021 at 11am at the funeral home with burial to follow in Forest Lawn Cemetery, Norfolk. For those unable to attend in person, the service will be webcast at www.grahamfuneralhome.com .