NORWICH – Shirley Gould, 78, a Norwich resident for much of her adult life, passed away early Wednesday morning, Aug. 31, 2011, at the Chenango Memorial Hospital.
Born in Sherburne in November of 1932, Shirley was the daughter of Leon “Pete” and Margaret Tarbell Palmer. She grew up in the Smyrna and Sherburne areas, graduating from the Sherburne High School with the class of 1950. A lady who loved to laugh, smile, and joke, she would always put others ahead of herself and was a very giving person. Shirley married Richard A. Gould in Norwich on Feb. 16, 1952, and relocated with her family to Seattle, Washington, in 1964. While there she pursued and earned her LPN degree, and worked at that profession in Seattle until the family moved back to Norwich in 1976. Shirley worked for a time as a waitress at the Blue Bird Restaurant before resuming her career as an LPN, taking employment with Chenango Memorial Hospital where she was employed until her retirement in 1996. Shirley continued to work as an LPN, doing home health care until 2003, at which time her own health curtailed her activity.
Shirley is survived by her son, Richard Gould and wife Staci of Greene, and by grandchildren Star, Shannon and Christina Gould. Also surviving are nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her husband, Richard, on Oct. 15, 1999, her son, James Gould, her sister, Barara Shaul, and brother, Gary Palmer.
Funeral services for Shirley will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday from the R.J. Fahy Funeral Home. The Rev. Bill Chapman, pastor of the Temple Baptist Church of Norwich, will officiate. Interment will be in the Willcox Cemetry of Smyrna. Friends are invited to call at the R.J. Fahy Funeral Home on Saturday from 10-11 a.m.