Shirley E. Gaynor, 95, of Brockton died peacefully Wednesday June 5, 2024 at home. She was the wife of the late James Francis “Smiley” Gaynor, Jr. They were married on March 19, 1949 in Boston and shared over 60 years together until his passing in April 2010.
Born on January 6, 1929 at home in West Roxbury she was a daughter of the late Boston Police officer Carl Nelson and the late Isabelle Ellen (Hughes) Nelson. She was a graduate of Roslindale High School Class of 1947. Owing to her education and her later occupational endeavors Shirley was possessed of an immaculate penmanship.
Shirley was employed for over 45 years as bookkeeper at the offices of Charles E. Collins, C.P.A. in downtown Boston’s financial district. She later worked at a public accounting firm in Norwood before retiring.
Although a resident of Brockton’s Montello section for over 60 years Shirley’s heart remained in Boston. She actively followed current events, politics and sports. She was a faithful reader of the Brockton Enterprise and Boston Herald (or “The Record”, as she would term it) and her first stop with any newspaper would be the “Irish sports page”, translation: the obituaries!
Shirley will be remembered as a devoted wife (she married a Navy man) and mother and cherished her role as grandmother and great-grandmother, keeping up with who was doing what and going where.
Shirley is survived by four sons Jeffrey and Mark Gaynor of Brockton, James F. “Jimmy” Gaynor, of Bridgewater and his late wife Mary Beth (Giardino) Gaynor, Brian Gaynor and his wife Erin of Easton and two daughters Paula Lacouture and her husband Joseph of Brockton and Joanne Lopez and her husband Donald of Dorchester. She was the sister of the late George “Buddy” Hughes, Carl, Richard and Howard Nelson, Carol Fralin and Linda Fleming and their late spouses. Shirley is also survived by sisters-in-law Rosemary Nelson, Jane Twomey, Sara Strickland, Sheila and Barbara Gaynor and her 13 grandchildren, many great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews and their families.
All are welcome to gather to honor and remember Shirley at visiting hours on Thursday June 13, 2024 from 3:00-7:00 pm at Waitt Funeral Home, 850 North Main St. Brockton. A prayer service will be held at 6:30 pm during visiting hours. Shirley will be laid to rest at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Randolph at a later date.