Shirley Elaine Strazdas

Shirley Elaine Strazdas passed away at her home in Templeton, Massachusetts on October 3, 2026 at the age of 96. She was the firstborn of three children to Thelma (Spring) and Edward Wheelock on May 26, 1930 in Keene, New Hampshire. The Great Depression era lasted throughout the first 10 years of her life. WWII rationing of food, goods, and gas began when she turned 12. These events would shape her entire life and generations to follow. She graduated from Keene High School in 1948, where her ink sketches were featured on assorted program covers for high school events. Her artistic skills have been passed on to various lucky family members.

After marrying the late Raymond Ernest Strazdas on June 6, 1953, Shirley became a resident of Templeton, where the couple raised seven children together, who were born over the span of ten years. To keep the family financially afloat, she began working as a florist at Margaret Braun’s shop (now Valley Florist), often bringing flowers home to make arrangements based on her sketches. In the late 1950’s she became a waitress at the Old Mill, where there were already so many Shirleys, that she had to go by the name Lee. She eventually became the scheduling and hiring manager of their massive waitstaff until she left in 1975. Overlapping this same time period in the mid 60s, she decided to enroll at Mount Wachusett, then Fitchburg State colleges to become an English teacher. After graduating, she began teaching in the Fitchburg school systems in 1970 and would eventually obtain her Masters in Library Science at Worcester State. She worked as a school librarian until retiring at age 75.

Shirley was an excellent seamstress, an adventurous cook, and wonderful baker who would make dozens of Christmas cookies and Lithuanian braided breads every year for friends and neighbors. She opened her home to others who had no place to go during the holidays including Thanksgiving. She loved to crochet and knit and made scores of beautifully crafted afghans for family members, including newborn grandchildren. She also was an avid Patriots and Red Sox fan.

Beginning in 1960, with the help of her savvy and meticulous budgeting skills, Shirley and Ray began renting a camp on a lake for their kids to enjoy for a couple of weeks each summer. By 1968, she had set aside enough money to purchase a camp on Wyman Pond for the family to enjoy anytime. Family camping trips that traversed the US became another annual event. When their children had kids of their own, she and Ray would rent a house in Myrtle Beach, SC for the entire family during April vacation week for a number of years. Ray would abruptly pass away there on April 14, 2007. Together with him and apart, Shirley traveled to all 50 states and 85 countries across the world.

Shirley remarkably defied the challenges of Parkinson’s disease for almost two decades. Her determination, strength, and “if you are not going to do it right, don’t do it at all” attitude were a gift to her children, 18 grandchildren, and 16 great grandchildren who are scattered across the country, and loved her deeply. She is survived by her children: Susan (Andrew) Wetzel; Markel (Jane) Strazdas; Cindy Monette; Wendy (Wayne) Tarshis; James (Amy) Strazdas; Cheryl (James) McIntire; and Gregory (Lynne) Strazdas. She also leaves behind her grandchildren: Kara, Kyle, and Laura; Thomas, Derek, and Kristen; Joshua, Heather, and Aimee; Dustin and Brianna; Dylan; Amanda, Jeffrey, and Rachel; Jessica and Garrett; and great-grandchildren: Harper and Lila; Landen, Brady, Maisy, and Avery; Ashlynn; Elias and Samuel; Maverick, Maxwell, Micah, and Cooper; Finn, Calvin, and Franklin.

Her parents, as well as her sister Jacqueline and brother Wayne Wheelock, predeceased her, along with her son-in-law Michael Monette, daughter-in-law Robin Strazdas, and grandson Corey Strazdas.

Calling Hours will be held on Thursday, October 15, 2026 from 11:00 AM to 12:30 PM at Mack Family Funeral Homes, located at 105 Central Street in Gardner, MA.

A private burial service will take place afterwards.