Shirley L. (Johnson) Thibodeau, 82, of Valley Hill Drive, formerly of Caribou, ME, died peacefully on Tuesday, August 28, 2012 under the loving care of her family and the staff at Holden Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. Her loving husband of 50 years, J. Martin Thibodeau, died in 2000.
     Shirley was born and raised in Caribou, ME the daughter of Noble E. and Lillian M. (Anderson) Johnson and lived in the Holden area for 50 years. Shirley graduated from Caribou High School in 1949. She was a production operator for Allegro Microsystems, formerly known as Sprague Electric, before retiring in 1992. She was a member of St. Mary’s Church in Jefferson, enjoyed spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren and loved gardening.
     Shirley is survived by three daughters, Debra Olson and her husband Herb of East Hampton, CT, Trudy Benedict and her husband Dominic of Stokesdale, NC and Joyce Roche and her husband Paul of Holden; a brother, Randy Johnson of Kentucky; two sisters, Jan Rice of Norwich, CT and Marge Cole of Caribou, ME; seven grandchildren, Cassandra, Sarah, Jared, David, Kimberly, Alison and Kelley; many nieces and nephews and her loving companion of 12 years, her dog, Teddy. She was predeceased by three brothers, Ronald, Kenton and Larry Johnson and two sisters, Della Hanson and Barbara Sutherland.
     Relatives and friends are invited to attend calling hours from 5 to 7 p.m. on Friday, August 31, at the Miles Funeral Home, 1158 Main St., Holden. The funeral for Shirley will be held on Saturday, September 1, from the funeral home with a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. in St. Mary’s Church, 114 Princeton St., Jefferson. Burial will follow in Worcester County Memorial Park, Paxton. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Worcester Animal Rescue League, 139 Holden St., Worcester, MA 01606.