Shirley E. Bock

Shirley E. (Knowlton) Bock, age 93, and a resident of Orange, MA, passed away peacefully on November 4, 2023.

Shirley was born on June 17, 1930, in Athol, MA, to the late Irwin L. Knowlton and Mildred (Randall) Knowlton. She grew up in Athol, graduated from Athol High School in 1948 and went on to graduate from the Nursing Program at Burbank Hospital in Fitchburg, MA in 1951 as a Registered Nurse. She lived in Petersham from 1956 until 1962, moving to Holden, MA, from 1962 until 1988, at which time they moved to Athol to the Knowlton family home on Chestnut Hill Ave. At this time, Shirley and her husband, John E. Bock, completely restored the family home. Since 2007 she has resided at Pioneer Place Condominiums in Orange.

Shirley worked as a Registered Nurse at Burbank Hospital in Fitchburg from 1951 until 1956 in the outpatient department.

Shirley was a member of the Athol Congregational Church, serving on the Memory Garden Committee, taught Sunday school, Christian Education Committee, and the crafter’s group. While living in Holden, she was an active member of the Chafins Church where she taught Sunday school, started with two women the craft center at the church, to which they operated for 20 years. She also started the Adult Candy Stripers at the Holden Hospital and was very active with the Candy Stripers program. She was a member of the Petersham Craft Center and the A.A.R.P. Mt. Grace Chapter for many years. Shirley also served as a Den Mother for eight years while the boys were growing up, a member of the Campfire Girls receiving the Torch Bearers award, and while in high school, she enjoyed playing field hockey. She also enjoyed cross country skiing, gardening, hiking in the Quabbin, and crafts such as basketry, bargello and knitting.

Shirley is predeceased by her parents Irwin L. and Mildred (Randall) Knowlton, her husband John E. Bock, and a sister Louise Chase who passed away in 2000.

She is survived by her two sons, David Bock of Athol, MA, Dana Bock and his wife Lillian of Ashuelot, NH, and a foster son Jesse Dupray of Orange, MA. Shirley is also survived by three nephews and a niece Mark Chase (Debra)  Littleton, NH, William Chase (Marjorie) Enfield, NH, JoEllen Harris (Ben) Peidmont, SD and Geoffrey Chase of Redford, MI.

Visitation for Shirley Bock will be held on Thursday, November 9th, 2023, at 9:30am until 10:30 a.m.  followed by an in-house service at 11:00 a.m. at Fiske-Murphy & Mack Funeral Home, 110 New Athol Road, Orange, Massachusetts, 01364, with burial to follow at Silver Lake Cemetery, Silver Lake St, Athol, MA 01331.

Arrangements under the care of Fiske-Murphy & Mack Funeral Home, 110 New Athol Rd. Orange, MA.

Kevin J. Mack, Walter C. Taylor, and  Melissa A. McQuaid, Funeral Directors.