Mrs. Shirley A. Bell

June 30, 1935 - February 17, 2016

Shirley A. Bell Beloved Wife and Mother LOWELL – Shirley Ann (Gauthier) Bell, 80, passed away on Wednesday, February 17, 2016 at Lowell General Hospital. Shirley was the beloved wife of Frederick F. Bell of Lowell who survives her. Shirley was born in Lowell on June 30, 1935, a daughter of the late Odilon and Marie (Landry) Gauthier. As a child she was raised in the Christian Hill section of Lowell and attended St. Michael's. She was a graduate of Lowell High School, class of 1953. When she married she moved from Christian Hill to the Grove and became a member of the Sacred Heart Parish. Shirley’s first professional position was that of a secretary at Raytheon in Bedford. She eventually left Raytheon to remain home and attend to her family. Shirley was later employed as a clerk at the Lowell Superior Courthouse for the Middlesex County Registry of Deeds where she worked for close to thirty years until she retired. Shirley was always her happiest when surrounded by family and friends, and always opened her house to whoever wanted to visit; and it was always better if you visited on an empty stomach since she would want to feed you as soon as you came though the door. Shirley liked to travel and has seen a lot of the US via car, bus, train, and flying. She took many road trips with either her family, close friends, or both up and down the Atlantic Coast and across country. Once, which turned out to be enough, she traveled across country by train stopping along the way in various cities to see the sites. She very much enjoyed seeing and experiencing new places. During her retirement years Shirley was an active member of the Lowell Senior Center where she enjoyed exercising, playing bingo, and attending various social events. The characteristics that would describe Shirley best would be her selflessness, her ability to love unconditionally, and her feistiness. Shirley would help and care for those she loved without question or expectation, often putting their needs before her own. She was also a courageous and spirited women, much like her own mother, and would not be hesitant to express her feelings. Surviving Shirley are her husband Frederick Bell of Lowell; her son Gary Bell of Venice, CA; her sister, Doreen Tanguay of Lowell; her sister-in-law, Jean Gray of Dracut; also many nieces, nephews, and cousins. Shirley was the sister of the late Gerald Gauthier of Lowell. BELL—in Lowell, February 17, 2016, at Lowell General Hospital, Shirley A. (Gauthier) Bell, beloved wife of Frederick Bell and loving mother of Gary Bell. It being her wish, there will be no calling hours. Family and friends are invited to her FUNERAL PRAYER SERVICE on MONDAY MORNING at 11:30 AM at ST. JOSEPH’S CEMETERY CHAPEL, 96 Riverneck Road, E. Chelmsford. As an expression of sympathy, donations in Shirley’s memory may be made to the charity of your choice. ARRANGEMENTS BY THE FAY McCABE FUNERAL DIRECTORS 978-459-9222 www.faymccabe.com