WATERVILLE – Her loving family announces the passing of Phyllis Shiro after a period of declining health, on May 22, 2021. She passed peacefully at Maine General Center for Health Thayer Campus with her daughter by her side.

Born Phyllis Ann Kovner in Brockton, Mass. on Nov. 9, 1928 to Jeanne and Sam Kovner, Phyllis was first and foremost a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, godmother, sister, daughter, aunt, cousin and friend. She graduated from Brockton High School and the University of New Hampshire, moving to Waterville after meeting Burton Shiro in Brockton on a blind date, set up by her sister Lois’s fiancé, a fellow law student of Burton’s at Boston University. Phyllis and Burton became engaged three months after their first meeting, eventually married in 1951, and moved to Waterville where her husband established his law practice. The couple enjoyed nearly 65 years of marriage, marked by travels around the world, wonderfully memorable and numerous family holidays, celebrations, and events, and a treasured 13 summers spent at camp in Smithfield as a family.

Seeing that there was no Hebrew school associated with the synagogue upon her arrival in Waterville, she worked with her usual focus and drive to make sure that one was established as quickly as possible. She also worked tirelessly over the years with the B’nai B’rith sisterhood service organization, helping to prepare a variety of holiday meals, as well as planning and executing assorted events and charitable activities.

Phyllis spent many years as a dedicated teacher of remedial reading at the junior high level, taking not only professional but often great personal interest in her students. She went beyond just building their skills in the classroom to building their self-esteem in ways big and small. Arranging complimentary dental work for a particularly self-conscious adolescent was simply one example of her sensitivity to people and generosity of spirit. She believed that when there are those in need, it is often better not to wait to be asked for help but to simply act to deliver it. Her caring and devoted nature made her a valued member of numerous volunteer teams over the years, including work in patient opinion polling and breast cancer self-examination education at Thayer Hospital. She also relished her work as a docent at the Colby Art Museum and took immense pleasure in studying a variety of great artists and their work. Nothing delighted her more though than guiding groups of children through the galleries, introducing so many to a special, new experience. Phyllis also worked a number of years in Augusta as a volunteer consumer mediator in the office of the Attorney General. Her final volunteer efforts were focused at the Mid-Maine Homeless Shelter in Waterville where she could often be found reading to a child in her lap or happily playing with a group of rambunctious little ones.

Known for her great sense of style, Phyllis had a flair for entertaining and excellent culinary skills which went on public display at Stern’s Department Store where she gave many a cooking demonstration to hungry and grateful audiences. She even ran a small catering business out of her home for a time called P.S. It’s Delicious, featuring some of her most tasty specialties. She took great pride in establishing her home garden and worked with her signature energy to maintain it. An avid reader throughout her life, she enjoyed a variety of genres and could be as easily consumed by a cookbook as a spellbinding novel. The combination of her intelligence, wit, grace and humor combined with a special ability to listen without judgment were the qualities that most uniquely marked the way she lived and met the challenges of her life, and they are what we will miss the most. She brought those qualities to each day and every encounter, changing and improving many lives along the way. For all these virtues that made her the exceptional mother and person she was, we will always be forever thankful and blessed.

Phyllis was predeceased by her parents; her sisters Helen Greene and Lois Weinberg, and brother Edward Kovner. She is survived by her children Louis, Brian, and Leslie Shiro; her grandchildren Zachary and Alexis Shiro; daughter-in-law Donna Shiro; along with numerous and beloved nieces, nephews, cousins, and a most dear sister-in-law.

Her family would like to offer thanks to the many relatives, nieces, nephews, cousins, sister-in-law, and cherished friends whose love and support have been unwavering and a source of great strength and comfort. We are also most grateful to the staff at Delta and MaineGeneral Center for Health Thayer Campus for their dedication, expertise, and consistently conscientious care of Phyllis. We are especially grateful to Dr. David Preston and his staff for all their compassionate, capable, and considerate care, as well as to Dr. Joshua Sparling and Dr. Elias Lemoine for their patience and attentiveness.

A private burial service for immediate family will be held on June 1, 2021 at the Maine Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Augusta. A celebration of life will be held at a future date and time to be announced.

You are invited to offer your condolences and share fond memories with the family by visiting Phyllis’ guestbook at http://www.veilleuxfuneralhome.com.

A Service of Veilleux and Redington Funeral Home, 8 Elm St., Waterville, Maine 04901. (207)872-7676

Donations may be

made either to:

Beth Israel Synagogue

P.O. Box 1882

Waterville, ME 04903 or:

Educare Central Maine at educarecentralmaine.org or: the charitable organization

of your choice