- Date Of Birth: July 18, 1928
- Date Of Death: November 19, 2017
- State: Massachusetts
HAVERHILL – Shirley M. (Fecteau) Phelan, cherished wife of the late John E. Phelan, Sr., passed away peacefully into God’s arms on Sunday, November 19, 2017 at the age of 89. She was a devoted daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, aunt, and friend. Her capacity for love had no bounds. Born on July 18, 1928 in Haverhill, MA to the late Louis and Pauline (Bradshaw) Fecteau, she was a lifelong, proud resident of Haverhill, MA. She also summered most of her adult life at her beloved beach house in Seabrook Beach, NH where she enjoyed many wonderful times with family and friends.
She is survived by her three children Kathleen Phelan of Bradford, MA with whom she lived for the past 11 years, John (Jack) Phelan, Jr. and his fiancée Liz Hollis of Hampton, NH and Ed Phelan and his wife Diane of West Hartford, CT. She is also survived by her life-long best friend and cousin, Barbara Tattan of Peabody, MA.
She is predeceased by her parents, her husband John, his sister Mary Nedeau and her husband Ronald, her brother Louis Fecteau and his wife Anita and their daughter Paula, her uncle Harry Roche and many other relatives and friends whom she loved dearly.
Shirley was affectionately nicknamed “Skip” by her mother, spent her youth in the “Acre” section of Haverhill, and graduated from St. James Schools. Always ambitious and independent, she spent her childhood summers at Country Pond in Newton Junction, NH managing lemonade stands and picking and selling blackberries. Known throughout life as a shrewd and meticulous shopper, storekeepers knew her for her endless returns and repurchases of goods on sale.
She married her husband John in 1951 and together they lived a fairly-tale life for 55 years. Her primary goal in life was to make sure her husband, children and grandchildren were healthy and happy.
