Southbridge: Shirley Yvonne (Bertrand) Buchanan, 88, of Charlton St., passed away on Tuesday, Jan. 14th, at UMass Memorial-Harrington, Southbridge, surrounded by her family.

On May 15, 1954, Shirley married her husband Leo F. Buchanan.  Shirley and Leo went on to spend 45 years together before Leo passed away in January of 2000.  Through the years together they built a large tight-knit family.  Together they had 12 children, 14 grandchildren, 20 great grandchildren and 5 great-great grandchildren.

Shirley leaves her 6 sons, David Buchanan and his wife Brenda of Quinebaug, CT, Dennis Buchanan and his wife Bonnie, Brian Buchanan and his wife Donna, Mark Buchanan, Rodney Buchanan and Gregory Buchanan, all of Southbridge; her 6 daughters, Linda Leduc and her husband Barry, Barbara Fuhrmann and her husband Stephen, Cheryl Bernier and her husband Roland, Deborah Lertora and her husband Jim and Renee Brackett, all of Southbridge.  She also leaves her daughter, Natalie Renaud and her husband Michael with whom Shirley lived for the past three years; her brother, Antonio Bertrand of Southbridge; her 14 grandchildren; her 20 great grandchildren; her 5 great-great grandchildren; and nieces and nephews.  She was predeceased by her 6 siblings, Richard Bertrand, Norman Bertrand, Constance Thompson, Theresa Prunier, Roger Bertrand and Ruth Laflash, and her son-in-law, John Brackett.

Shirley was born on April 14, 1936, to the late Antonio and Lillian (Provost) Bertrand.

Shirley worked as a chambermaid for over 30 years at the Sheraton/Sturbridge Host Hotel in Sturbridge, retiring in 1998.

Shirley was a tiny lady filled with sass and sweetness.  She spent her days enjoying her favorite game shows on television and would never pass up a trip to Foxwoods.  Nothing made her happier than a game of cards.  Her favorite thing was sitting around the kitchen table playing a game of cards with family members and she could be found doing just that many nights a week.

Mother, daughter, wife, sister, friend – Shirley was affectionately known to most as Mem.  Words cannot express how deeply she will be missed by each of her grand, great and great-great grandchildren.

Calling hours for Shirley will be held on Sunday, Jan. 19th, from 2:00 to 4:00pm in the Daniel T. Morrill Funeral Home, 130 Hamilton St., Southbridge, with a funeral service to follow in the funeral home at 4:00pm.  Burial in Old Notre Dame Cemetery, Southbridge will be held at the convenience of the family.