Obituary of Shirley Gilchrist

Shirley S. Gilchrist passed away unexpectedly only 9 days after the death of her loving husband of 69 years, Frederick L. Gilchrist. She was 89 years old. Shirley was born in Somerville, the daughter of the late Leroy and Doris Skillin. She grew up in Somerville and was a 1943 graduate of Somerville High School. Growing up, Fred Gilchrist was the best friend of her brother Clifford and so she knew Fred long before they ever started dating. She was just Cliff’s younger sister. She started dating Fred while he was serving in WW II and they were married on February 1, 1947. They had their first child 10 months after being married and eventually settled in Burlington in 1953 where they lived for 62 years. Shirley had a number of interests and careers over the years. She was a stunning young lady and a talented dancer in High School and danced in shows in Boston. They wanted her to go to New York to try for the Rocketts but her Dad would not allow it! She worked at Simplex Wire and Cable during the war. When she had her children she was a stay at home mother. When her children were high school age she returned to work as a sales clerk in the Gift Department at Almy’s. Shirley then went to work at Peter Bent Brigham Hospital in Boston. She worked as a transcriptionist and secretary in the Cardiac Unit. After she retired, she spent over 23 years volunteering at the Emerson Hospital in Concord. In her final days, it gave Shirley great comfort to be cared for by the doctors and nurses whom she had worked with over those many years. Over her 89 years, Shirley had a number of interests and activities. She loved to dance and was a longtime member of the Minuteman Squares. She loved to roller skate when she was young. She was an active member of The International Order of the Rainbow for Girls. She was a longtime member of the United Church of Christ Congregational church in Burlington where she taught Sunday school. She loved to knit and crochet and made clothing and blankets for her family, the military, and those in hospitals. She loved the time her family spent in Alton Bay on Lake Winnipesaukee every summer. Shirley also loved people. It didn’t take long for Shirley to make a stranger a friend. Family and friends often used these adjectives to describe Shirley; concerned, charitable, talkative, friendly, understanding, comforting, and loving. Her family has lost their mother, grandmother, and great grandmother, but they are comforted with the thought that Shirley is reunited again with her husband and love, Fred. Shirley was the beloved wife of 68 years of the late Frederick L. Gilchrist. She was the loving and caring mother of Diane Vigneri & her husband Thomas of FL and David of Worcester. Sister of the late Clifford Skillin. Sister-in-law of the late Henry and Pauline Gilchrist. Grandmother of Neil of Holden, David of Holden, and Stacey Mayfield of Malden. Great grandmother of Adam, Lucas, Alexi, David & Jonathan Gilchrist and Simon & Baxter Mayfield. Funeral services will be held at the Edward V. Sullivan Funeral Home, 43 Winn Street, BURLINGTON (exit 34 off Rt. 128/95, Woburn side) on Friday, April 3 at 11 a.m. Visiting hours Thursday from 6-8 p.m. Interment in Puritan Lawn Cemetery, Peabody. Memorials in Shirley’s name may be made to a charity of one’s own choice.