SHIRLEY T. OLADELL
CAMDEN………..Shirley T. Oladell, 88, died September 8, 2013 at Quarry Hill in Camden on Sept. 8, 2013. Born in Torrington, CT on Nov. 25, 1924, she grew up on a farm in Harwinton, CT living with her parents, grandparents, an aunt, and three brothers. Shirley was raised by a grandmother because her mother worked and was taught how to cook at age 10. She and her grandmother made 28 loaves of bread each week and she loved cooking. As a child, she was a member of the 4-H Club, Junior Grange and the junior choir at church. Shirley attended elementary school a one room school house in Harwinton and high school in Torrington until she was forced to quit school as a junior due to a family financial crisis.
Shirley had three loves in life, family, cooking and music. She met Marcus Oladell, III, her future husband, when he joined her mother’s band. In 1943, they married and resided in Harwinton until 1981, when they moved to Maine.
Her employment included several jobs until she was hired as a restaurant chef and started her own catering business which she did for 40 years. In 1980, Shirley was featured as one of New England’s Best Cooks.
Her memberships and activities included the grange, Little League Booster Club, Ladies Auxiliary for Harwinton Fire Dept., several choral groups and senior choir.
When her grandson dropped out of high school, Shirley promised him that if he went returned to school to get his diploma, that she would get her GED. At age 67, she returned to school and graduated with two grandsons the same year.
Her husband of 58 years, Marcus Oladell, III; son-in-law, David Pierce Sr.; and grandson, David Pierce, Jr. predeceased her. Surviving are her children, Christina Pierce of Camden, Marcus Oladell IV of E. Hartford; 7 grandchildren; 9 great-grandchildren; several nieces and nephews, and many great-nieces and nephews. Memorial donations may be made to the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Maine, 477 Congress Street, St. M-1, Portland, ME 04101. Condolences may be shared with the Oladell family by visiting their book of memories at www.longfuneralhomecamden.com . A memorial service will be held at 4PM, Sat., Sept. 21, 2013 at Snow Marine Park on Mechanic Street in Rockland. There will be a memorial service held at Harwinton Congregational Church in Harwinton, CT at 1PM on Sept. 28, 2013. Arrangements are with the Long Funeral Home & Cremation Service, 9 Mountain Street, Camden.

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