Shirley A. Gosselin

AUGUSTA – Shirley A. Gosselin, 74, of Augusta traded her superhero cape for angel wings on Oct. 20, 2023, with her daughters by her side.

Shirley was born on Dec. 11, 1948, in Augusta to Francis and Anna Folsom. She attended Augusta schools. She married her “worst half” Carl F. Gosselin on Oct. 12, 1968, and they recently celebrated 55 years of marriage. Together they raised three daughters, who were the sources of joy, many sleepless nights and gray hair. She worked for many years as a banquet waitress at the Holiday Inn in Augusta, taking great pride in knowing what her customers wanted without them asking. She went on to work for Shop ‘n Save before settling into her favorite role of Memere. As her daughters, we had the honor of her being with us as each grandchild entered the world. One Christmas day, she earned the title of Great Memere when the first of her four great grandchildren were born.

Shirley enjoyed playing Bingo, gardening, playing cards and making her holiday chocolates every year. She spent many years volunteering to make birthday cakes for patients at AMHI and she and her mother-in-law made many beautiful wedding cakes for family members – with only one cake layer that didn’t quite make it to the reception.

She was President of the Women’s Club at St. Andrew’s Catholic Church and stayed involved in Parish activities.

We always joked that Mom had nine lives, although we are pretty sure she had more stockpiled. She has defied odds and bounced back from every medical issue since 2018, astounding all of us with her strength and stubbornness, always with her humor and quick wit. And no matter how bad she felt, when asked, she would always say “I’m good.”

She was predeceased by her parents; siblings, Bill, Val, Richard, Bobby and Joan; her in-laws, Reggie and Marcelle Gosselin; and brothers-in-law, Roger and Mike.

She is survived by her husband Carl; daughters, Leslie Burgess and her husband Jeff, Tricia Harriman and her partner Greg Cross, and Wendy Gosselin; her grandchildren, Ashley and Justin Genest, Jacob and Zoe Harriman, Kendra Burgess, Morgan Burgess, and Brandon Gosselin; great grandchildren, Emma and Ella Genest and Sophie and Bennett Harriman; siblings, Frank, Henry and Jeanne; as well as many nieces and nephews and good friends.

Visiting hours will be from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m., noon, on Monday, October 30, at Plummer Funeral Home, 16 Pleasant Street in Augusta where a memorial service will begin at 12 p.m., noon. There will be a private family burial at a later date.

Shirley received many life-saving blood transfusions during her illness. The family would like to encourage people to donate blood in her memory to the American Red Cross.

The family would like to extend heartfelt thanks to Beacon Hospice for all of their care and support, especially Judy, Brienne, Lisa and Carly.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to:

Beacon Hospice

245 Center Street, Suite 10A

Auburn, ME 04210

Chrisanne Burns Scholarship Fund

c/o Cony High School

60 Pierce Drive

Augusta, ME 04330