Helen Cleary Shepard, 98
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Helen A. Cleary Shepard, 98, of 606 Union St. died Sunday, Jan. 24, 2010, at the North Adams Commons.
Born in North Adams on March 21, 1911, a daughter of Domina and Anna Lefebrve Sorel, she attended local schools.
Mrs. Shepard and her first husband, Thomas D. Cleary, owned and operated the former Cleary Children's Shoe Store on Main Street from 1948 to 1966. She was last employed at the former Franklin Street Nursing Home, now North Adams Commons.
She was a longtime communicant of the former St. Francis of Assisi Church. She enjoyed gardening, canning, knitting and crocheting. She was a member of the Jollee Circle Club and the LeCercle Francais Club. She was a devoted mother and grandmother and loved spending time with her grandchildren.
Mr. Cleary died Nov. 19, 1964.
Her husband, Francis W. Shepard, died April 10, 1995.
She leaves two sons, Thomas "Tim" Cleary of Castleton, Vt., and William D. Cleary of Dracut; six randchildren, eight great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.
She was predeceased her siblings Corinne Paquette, Albert Sorel, Napoleon Sorel and Louis Sorel.
FUNERAL NOTICE — Funeral services for Mrs. Shepard will take place Saturday, Jan. 30, at 8:45 from Flynn & Dagnoli-Montagna Home for Funerals, West Chapels, 521 West Main St., North Adams, followed by a Liturgy of Christian Burial at 9:30 at St. Elizabeth of Hungary Church. Burial will follow in Southview Cemetery.
Calling hours will be Friday, Jan. 29, from 5 to 7 at the funeral home. Memorial donations are suggested for the charity of the donor's choice through the funeral home.