Shirley Helen Gabaree Foster, 91, passed away peacefully in the comfort of her family at Central Vermont Medical Center in Berlin on Monday, October 6, 2014. Born in Burlington on March 11, 1923, she was the daughter of the late Walter and Agnes (Pecor) Kenyon. On April 3, 1943, she married Lafayette "Stub" Gabaree in Waitsfield. Mr. Gabaree predeceased her on September 26, 1969. On April 28, 1974, Shirley married Donald Foster in Moretown.
Shirley was a 1941 graduate of Waitsfield High School and then as a young woman worked several years for Waitsfield-Fayston Telephone Co. as an operator. Following her marriage to Lafayette, Shirley was happy and busy as a homemaker and raising her children in addition to helping on the family farm. She later worked as a classroom aide at Waitsfield Elementary School and volunteered at Waterbury Elementary School.
Shirley operated a community care home in Waterbury for over a decade and then later owned and operated an apartment building in Moretown until two years ago.
Community service and volunteerism are integral parts of Shirley and Don's fabric. A team effort for over 20 years, they have been delivering daily Meals On Wheels provided by Waterbury Area Senior Citizen's Center. Neither rain, sleet, snow nor mud season could deter them from home deliveries that folks, oftentimes younger than them, depended on. They were presented with the Governor's Award for Outstanding Volunteer Community Service and the Senior Center now honors them with an annual award given to those who inspire dedication and dependability, appropriately called the Don and Shirley Foster Volunteer of the Year Award. In addition to the Senior Citizens, Shirley was a member of RSVP and Waitsfield United Church of Christ. Leisure skills were not a part of Shirley's life script; however, spending time with her large and loving family was incredibly important to her.
Shirley is survived by her husband of 40 years, Donald Foster of Waterbury Center; her children, George Gabaree Sr. of Waterbury, Bill Gabaree and his wife Cindy of Morrisville, Joe Gabaree and his wife Denise of Moretown, Kathy Burnor of East Hardwick, Sally Groff and her husband Ed of North Hero, Lucille Emmons and her husband Conrad of Waterbury Center; 18 grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren and 1 great-great grandson; two sisters, Mary Noyes and her husband Warren of Moretown, and Dorothy Wimble of Albany, NY; as well as nieces, nephews and extended family. Shirley was predeceased by two brothers, Howard and Stanley Kenyon, and a sister, Verna Mae Heath.
Funeral services will be held from Waitsfield United Church of Christ on Saturday, October 11, 2014, at 11 a.m. Interment will follow at Mountain View Cemetery, Moretown. Friends and family may call at Perkins-Parker Funeral Home in Waterbury on Friday evening from 6 to 8 p.m. The family requests that flowers be omitted; rather memorial gifts would be appreciated to the Waterbury Area Senior Center, 14 Stowe Street, Waterbury, VT 05676. To send online condolences visit www.perkinsparker.com and Facebook.
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