Shirley A. (Suomala) Castine

Shirley A. Castine Athol – Shirley A. (Suomala) Castine, 88, of Lyons Hill Road, died Thursday, December 4, 2014 at the Athol Hospital      Shirley was born in Athol, MA, December 26, 1925, the daughter of George W. and Minnie (Fuller) Suomala.  She grew up and has lived in Athol all of her life, graduating from Athol High School in 1943.      Shirley was an artist teaching art for over 35 years, operated a gift shop and attended craft shows throughout the state.  She loved to eat out, travel and in years past, go snowmobiling with her husband and friends.  Always one who was independent and on the go doing things.      Her husband of 50 years Fredrick W. Castine, Sr. died in 1995.  She leaves two sons, Gerald Castine of Templeton and Fredrick W. Castine, Jr. and his husband Gary Partridge of Athol; three grandchildren, Darren, Dakota and Cody Castine; a sister, Sylvia Simula of South Royalston; sister-in-law, Lillian Suomala of Athol; a niece Annette Freeman of Barre and several other nieces and nephews.  Besides her husband she was predeceased by two brothers Richard and George and a sister Margie.      Funeral services will be held Wednesday, December 10, 2014 at 11:00 A.M. at Higgins-O’Connor Funeral Home, 146 Main St., Athol with the Rev. Dr. Beverly Prestwood-Taylor, pastor of the Athol Congregational Church, officiating. There will be a calling hour from 10:00 A.M. until the start of the service. Burial will follow at Highland Cemetery and in lieu of flowers the family suggests contributions be made to: the Alzheimer’s Association, 480 Pleasant St., Watertown, MA  02472.   For further information or to share a memory with the family go to: www.higginsoconnorfuneralhome.com. $(document).ready(function(){ });