SWEDEN — Our kind and loving mother, Shirley Crowe, 94, of Sweden, was a “Salt of the Earth” human being who completed her life on Earth Day, Monday, April 22, 2024, at 11:39 p.m.

She will be missed terribly by family and friends. We will always carry her in our hearts. She loved us well and taught us to be kind and loving to others.

Shirley answered to many names throughout her life. Her husband, John called her “Shirl”
and “Honey.” Her five children Stephen, Laureen, Pamela, Susan and Jonathan called her “Mom.” Shirley was “Grams” to her grandchildren, “Great Grams” to her great-grandchildren and “Aunt Shirley” to her nieces and nephews.

Born Shirley Anne Stone, her brother nicknamed her “Side-Angle-Side for her initials. Her college roommate nicknamed her SAS.

Shirley was a Girl Scout in her youth and a Girl Scout leader as an adult. She sang in the church choir as a soprano and soloist.

Shirley earned a PhT — for “Putting Hubby Through” master’s degrees at Andover Newton Theological School, where she was also a “Divinity Dame” member, and Worcester State College.

Shirley grew up in Danbury, Conn. She attended UConn, where she met her future husband John Crowe, and received her degree in Home Economics and Textiles. John and Shirley married after graduation. Shirley was a Nursery School Education teacher and administrator who started the first nursery school at her church in New Jersey. She was also a teacher and administrator at Chestnut Street Congregational Church in Worcester, Mass. She owned and operated Green Acres Nursery School in Sturbridge, Mass.

Shirley loved creating hand-stitched quilts for family and friends. She was an excellent seamstress and an incredible baker.

Shirley served others by volunteering for numerous church and community projects. She was instrumental in establishing and developing the Sweden Food Pantry, where she held the position of president for several years.

In lieu of flowers and gifts, kindly make donations in her memory to the Sweden Food Pantry, 137 Bridgton Road, Sweden, ME 04040.

Arrangements are in the care of the Hall Funeral Home in Casco. Condolences and tributes may be shared with Shirley’s family at www.hallfuneralhome.com.