Shirley Anne Patenaude

Shirley Anne Patenaude was also known as "Shelamane" to her loving husband, Peter, and "Squirrel" to her caring family. She passed on to be with the Lord on 09/10/2009 at the age of 74 in the home of her daughter, Tina and son-in-law John Bedford, where she always wanted to be, surrounded by the ones who loved her with all their hearts. God came to her as she slept and carried her home to her family in heaven, where we all will meet again. Our mother was born on 04/22/1935 in Springfield, MA to Napoleon and Madeline Peppin. She grew up with her brother Edward (Mickey) Peppin, cousins Lenny and Billy Gauthier and their Aunt Cora, also known as Aunt Pun. Married to Peter Patenaude for over 40 years, he was the love of her life; they were parted in death but are now reunited with God in Heaven. She has worn many hats in her life, including working side by side with Peter as a farmer and carpenter. Most notable was her role as Mother to her 12 children where she gave her caring heart to all who needed love. She has called Florida home for many years, but she had also called MA, CA, and VT home during her long life. All, who knew Shirley, knew she loved her bingo, did I say "BINGO"! As for Vegas, what happens in Vegas ....; well you know the rest. We played cribbage with her all of our lives along with many other games. A few people got to see her new game, Cribbage Go Fish. A few years ago she learned how to play Texas Holdem Poker and even learned to play on a computer at the age of 70. This past New Year's Eve she won the family poker tournament at midnight. She lived her life the same way she played poker "All-In". Crafter should have been her middle name as every month was a new project. The house was always changing in color or design and she has passed her crafting talents on to her loved ones (you know who you are). Another talent of hers was cooking, at which she was the best, even topping the old family favorite "Meat Pie". Again, her recipes and cooking skills live on in her children and grandchildren and will be passed on to the great-grandchildren. She loved to joke, laugh, watch a movie or game show with her family and tell stories of her life growing up in MA. If you would like to hear a favorite family story about Shirley, please ask her children about the time "Dad shot Mom". It is best told in person; without a doubt, you will be in tears and laughing; trust me. Our mother loved Christmas; her tree was her shining glory. To this day we all strive to decorate a tree that our mother would adore. Christmas was about the birth of Jesus, family, great food, love and gifts under our tree, even when we thought there would not be any. Our mother was all about giving and she always made sure that Christmas was not just about presents under a tree, but it was about giving from the heart. As a mother Shirley is survived by her 10 children and their spouses, Mark and Jeannette Patenaude, Judy Makela, Peter and Claire Patenaude, Cathy Patenaude, Debbie and Ralph Moore, Tina and John Bedford, Thomas and Kathy Patenaude, Paul and Leslie Patenaude, Monica and Richard Robinson and Michael and Andrea Patenaude. She was a Grandmother to 25 and a Great Grandmother to 14 with 3 more on the way. Lastly, she is survived by her brother Edward (Mickey) and his wife Ruth Peppin. Her friends and family across the US will all miss her dearly. One friend who will miss her very much is her small dog, Brandy. When Brandy became homeless, Shirley took her into her home and heart. Our mother was about living and loving others. For those who did not know us when we were children, we want you to know that our home was filled with love through the good times and the bad. At the end of each school year a friend would come over for a day and stay all summer. There is always room for one more at a Patenaude table, in our home and in our hearts. Shirley and Peter Patenaude passed this legacy on to all their children and it will continue to be passed on to all generations present and future. Our mom has gone to Heaven to be with loved ones Peter, Napoleon, Madeline, Lenny, Eleanor, Cora and her two baby angels; who are waiting at the side of God, with open arms until we see them again. Poems of Love to Our Mother: Your Mother Is Always With You Your mother is always with you... She's the whisper of the leaves as you walk down the street. She's the smell of bleach in your freshly laundered socks. She's the cool hand on your brow when you're not well. Your mother lives inside your laughter. She's crystallized in every tear drop... She's the place you came from, your first home.. She's the map you follow with every step that you take. She's your first love and your first heart break....and nothing on earth can separate you. Not time, Not space... Not even death.... will ever separate you from your mother.... You carry her inside of you.... A Mother's Love A mother's love! What can compare with it! Of all things on earth, it comes nearest to divine love in heaven. A mother's love means a life's devotion - and sometimes a life's sacrifice - with but one thought, one hope and one feeling, that her children will grow up healthy and strong, free from evil habits and able to provide for themselves. Her sole wish is that they may do their part like men and women, avoid dangers and pitfalls, and when dark hours come, trust in Providence to give them strength, patience and courage to bear up bravely. Happy is the mother when her heart's wish is answered, and happy are sons and daughters when they can feel that they contributed to her noble purpose, and in some measure, repaid her unceasing, unwavering love and devotion God's Masterpiece Is Mother God took the fragrance of a flower... The majesty of a tree... The gentleness of morning dew... The calm of a quiet sea... The beauty of the twilight hour... The soul of a starry night... The laughter of a rippling brook... The grace of a bird in flight... Then God fashioned from these things A creation like no other, And when his masterpiece was through He called it simply - Mother. I Said a Mother's Prayer for You I said a Mother's Day prayer for you to thank the Lord above for blessing me with a lifetime of your tenderhearted love. I thanked God for the caring you've shown me through the years, for the closeness we've enjoyed in time of laughter and of tears. And so, I thank you from the heart for all you've done for me and I bless the Lord for giving me the best mother there could be! 27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me; 28 and I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish, and no one shall snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. Romans 8:37-39 (New American Standard Bible) 37But in all these things we overwhelmingly (A)conquer through (B)Him who loved us. 38For I am convinced that neither (C)death, nor life, nor (D)angels, nor principalities, nor (E)things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from (F)the love of God, which is (G)in Christ Jesus our Lord. 1 Corinthians 13:4-12 (New Living Translation) 4 Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud 5 or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. 6 It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. 7 Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.

Shirley Anne Patenaude

April 22, 1935 - September 10, 2009