Theresa Shirey

Theresa “Terry” Anne (Jodoin) Shirey passed away after a brief illness on 2/25/2024.
Terry was the second youngest of 11 children born to Raymond and Pearl (Carl) Jodoin in Pomfret, Connecticut on 5/17/1929.
She attended nursing school in Worcester, MA where she earned her RN degree and moved to Boston to work. In 1951, she enlisted in the army and was stationed in Germany as a nurse. From there, she was able to travel around Europe, enjoying all each country had to offer. This time overseas was the highlight of her nursing career.
After discharge, she received her Bachelor of Science at Annhurst College and then moved to Detroit, Michigan to pursue her master’s degree at the University of Detroit. While working as a teaching assistant, she met and married the love of her life, David Shirey, in 1962. She happily gave up her career to create the family she and David had always dreamed of. They settled in Royal Oak and went on to have 3 daughters. Having outgrown their home, they moved to Rochester and later to Oakland Township, until all 3 daughters had graduated from college.
In 1992, they built their dream retirement home in Sun City, Oro Valley, AZ where Terry picked up new hobbies including golf, line dancing and water aerobics. She and David traveled extensively visiting Alaska, Ireland, Hawaii, Canada and several national parks.
Volunteering was very important to Terry. She gave time to her children’s classrooms, Girl Scout troops, volunteered extensively at church and served as a reading tutor. She also volunteered with the Oro Valley police department for 20 years.
Terry was a devoted wife, mother and Nana. Above all, she was a faithful Catholic. She had a deep and fulfilling relationship with God and prayed the rosary daily. She recognized that she had been granted a wonderful life and was grateful for all her blessings.
Terry is survived by her husband of 62 years, David, as well as her 3 daughters Erin Silverman (late Kenneth) of Michigan, Tracey O’Neill (James) of Connecticut, and Jennifer Shirey of Arizona. She is also survived by her sister Mary Poulin (late David) and sister-in-law Judith Barnett (James), both of Florida, as well as her 5 beloved grandchildren Abby and Kate Silverman of Michigan and Molly, James David “Seamus” and Grace O’Neill of Connecticut, as well as many nieces and nephews.
A funeral mass will be held at Santa Catalina Catholic church at 11 AM on March 4th, 14380 N. Oracle Rd, Catalina, AZ. A light lunch will be held immediately following at the Hopi Room at the Sun City Oro Valley Activity Center, 1495 E. Rancho Vistoso Blvd., Oro Valley, AZ.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Vincent de Paul (ssvpusa.org) or Gift of Adoption Fund (giftofadoption.org) in Terry’s memory.