Obituary of Shirley M. Gendreau

Shirley Marie Gendreau, 87, died peacefully in Woodlawn Nursing Home in Skowhegan,
Maine, on January 26, 2025. She is survived by her daughter Priscilla Milnes (Hallowell,
Maine): sister Lucille Perry (Dracut, Mass), Gerald Gendreau (Lowell, Mass) and Leona
LaPlante (Wichita, Kansas), grandchildren Amanda Kinsey (Randolph, Maine), Paul
Kinsey (Winslow, Maine), David Potter (Lowell, Mass) and Ashley Potter (Lowell, Mass),
great grandchildren, Jude Poulin (Randolph, Maine), Jadyn and Sapphire Burgett
(Methuen, Mass), as well several nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by her daughter, Melissa Potter (Milnes) (Lowell, Mass),
grandsons Michael Champagne (Lowell, Mass), and John Wayne Potter (Lowell, Mass),
and granddaughter Tabitha Potter (Lowell, Mass).

Shirley grew up in Lowell, Massachusetts, and lived most of her life in the Belvidere
area. She was the first of four children of Leo Gendreau and Jeannette Gendreau
(Adams).

Some of her passions were reading, dancing, listening to music, yard sales with her
sister Lou, sewing, jigsaw puzzles, board games and being around friends and family. It
was not uncommon to find her dancing around the house and singing to her heart’s
content to all kinds of music. She loved visiting family and friends in Maine whenever
she could. She was also a pet lover. She had several cats throughout her life and her
dog Razzle was her most recent little girl. She also had several monkeys during most of
her adult life.

She graduated from Lowell High School and then went on to learn about computers and
was a trailblazer in that she was one of the first female computer operators in the
1970s. She then went on to own and operate her own sub shop and other various forms
of employment.

Any services will be held by individuals as they desire. Shirley’s wish was to have her
ashes scattered across a particular mountain in New Hampshire. There will be a
moment then for reflection and anyone is welcome to attend. The date is not yet set.