Obituary of Shirley A Souza

Shirley A. (Farley) Souza passed away unexpectedly, at the Lahey Hospital & Medical Center, with her family by her side, on Monday evening, March 12, 2018. The beloved wife of the late David A. Souza, she would have celebrated her 80th birthday on April 9th. Shirley was born, raised and educated in Brookline. She was one of five children born to the late Francis and Anna Farley. Shirley married David Souza in 1959 and they moved to Burlington in 1968 where they would raise their three children. Shirley worked her entire career as a telephone operator starting out with the phone company then working for several answering services. When she heard that Lahey Clinic would be coming to Burlington she applied for a job for which she got in the Telecommunications Department. She starting working for Lahey when they were still in Boston and would spend the next 25+ years there. After retiring she continued to work one day a week until 2013. Shirley's voice would be heard throughout the hospital at 8:00pm as she informed visitors that; “The visiting hours were now over. Please drive safely and have a pleasant evening. Good night.” She loved her job and made many friendships that still continued until her passing. Shirley enjoyed reading, playing bingo and taking trips to the casino with her friends, children and grandchildren. Foxwoods being her favorite and luckiest. Shirley and her husband David enjoyed taking road trips and had visited many destinations throughout the United States such as Florida, California and Las Vegas. She attended weekly bingo at the North Reading Senior Center with her in-laws. Shirley’s greatest passion and joy were her children and grandchildren. She was a hands on mom and always there for her children. She never missed an event of her children’s and in later years her grandchildren’s. She could be seen in the stands cheering them on with great pride and happiness. Simply said she was an “Awesome” mom and grandmother. Shirley will be remembered as a people person who had an outgoing personality and a great sense of humor. Shirley will always be in the hearts of her children and grandchildren. She will be greatly missed. Shirley was the beloved wife of the late David A. Souza. Loving mother of David F. Souza & his wife Kathleen of Wilmington, Julia A. Lafond & her husband Donald of Lowell and Debra Giardina & her husband Michael of Burlington. Proud grandmother of Kaitlyn, Meaghan & David Souza; Amber Lafond; Jennifer, Michael, T. J. & Nicholas Gochis. Daughter of the late Francis & Anna Farley. Sister of the late Louise Ford, William, Francis & Edward Farley. She leaves behind her sister-in-law Dolores Glotzbach and Elaine Ronchetti as well as many nieces, nephews and friends. Funeral Services will be held at the Edward V Sullivan Funeral Home, 43 Winn St., BURLINGTON (Exit 34 off Rt. 128/95 Woburn side) on Friday, March 16 at Noon. Visiting hours will be held prior to the service from 9 a.m. to Noon. Interment in Chestnut Hill Cemetery, Burlington. Memorials in Shirley’s name may be made to the American Heart Association, PO Box 417005, Boston, MA 02241-7005