Shirley Paquette Astle

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Born in Bridgeport, Conn., in 1943, Shirley Paquette Astle died Aug. 26, 2016, at Berkshire Medical Center after a long illness. 

She is survived by her beloved spouse, Maureen Buckley, and the whole Buckley clan; her sons Jonathan and Richard (Lisa) Astle of Pittsfield; grandsons Richard and Thomas; her "constant companion" rescue cat Spot; and longtime friends, Patti Prusaski and Madeline Wake; and many other dear friends. 

She was preceded in death by her parents, Nora and Joseph Paquette, and her Aunt Vi of Bridgeport, Conn. 

Shirley graduated from Notre Dame High School in Bridgeport and St. Francis Hospital School of Nursing in Hartford, Conn. Relocating to the Berkshires in 1969 with her former husband Richard Astle, she worked at Berkshire Medical Center as a staff nurse, IV therapist and infection control nurse. 

Shirl had a deep belief in nurses and their value to society and spent 30 years of her career advocating for them and assuring their welfare as a labor negotiator for the Massachusetts Nurses Association. She was at the helm of the first economic nursing strike in the state, here at Berkshire Medical Center in 1981. Her focus was always on empowering nurses to advocate for themselves, mentoring and inspiring them to do so. 

Shirley was active in many community organizations in the 1980s, lending her skills to the organizing committee of the annual Focus on Women Conference, on the board of Berkshire Women's News, and president of the board of the Women's Services Center. In the 1990s, she was diagnosed with Multiple Chemical Sensitivities and she turned her efforts toward educating others about environmental health issues. The disease eventually kept her housebound for the last few years of her life. 

Throughout her life, even in chronic illness, Shirley had a special knack for finding the joy in each day. Known for her deep convictions, Shirl also delighted friends and family with her sense of humor and her hearty laugh. She loved music and theater and was an accomplished cook. She will be sorely missed. 

Funeral notice: Funeral services for Shirley B. Astle, who died August 26, 2016, will be private and at the convenience of the family. A celebration of her life will be held in the fall. In lieu of flowers, donations in Shirley's memory can be made to the Berkshire Humane Society or the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts in care of http://www.deryfuneralhome.com/http://www.deryfuneralhome.com/, 54 Bradford St., Pittsfield, which is handling arrangements.