Shelby L. Oakland

Shelby L. Oakland (81) died on August 29, 2025. She was born in Worcester, MA, on September 27, 1943, to Uno Oakland and Aili (Paasonen) Oakland. Shelby lived in Gardner, MA, all her life. She graduated from Gardner High School in 1961.

Shelby's first job was at Heywood Wakefield Furniture Company. She also worked at Gardner Junior High School and Wironen's Studio in Gardner. In addition, she worked at Digital in Westminster and Nashua. Shelby retired from Henry Heywood Memorial Hospital. Shelby always spoke of the wonderful people she met at each job.

Shelby loved cats with a passion and had adopted many through the years. She loved reading mystery books, using the computer to communicate with friends, and playing Bookworm and other games. She also enjoyed dining out with family and friends.

Those of us who were fortunate enough to have spent time with Shelby knew her as a kind, authentic person who understood how to celebrate with us when we were happy, and to listen to us when we were down. She was intelligent, grounded, and could be trusted to always speak her truth. Perhaps most of all, though, she was known for her humor and her wit. She and her sister Holly could make almost any conversation an occasion for sidesplitting laughter. Shelby understood how to be a friend.

Shelby is predeceased by her parents and her only sister, Holly A. Booth. She leaves the best cousins and friends.

Upon her request, there will be no funeral services.