Shirley M. (Harrington) Beck

Waltham - Mrs. Shirley M. (Harrington) Beck, of Waltham, died Friday, August 23, 2024 in Maristhill Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. She was 95. 

Shirley was born April 27, 1929 in Framingham, one of eight daughters to the late James and Catherine (Curtin) Harrington. Raised and educated in Waltham she remained a life long city resident. She was married to the late Arthur J. Beck until his death on February 25, 1993.

She stayed at home to raise her own eight children and the role of mother and later grandmother and great-grandmother she easily assumed and mastered. She loved her family and making their house a home in which there was always something on the table ready to eat from a simple dish to dinners prepared for all the holidays. Shirley also loved music, butterflies and a winning game of bingo. 

In addition to her husband, Arthur she is predeceased by her daughter, Gail Frizzell; her sisters, Patricia Sharpe, Frances Jones, Roberta Johnson, Kay Wessinger and Joan Comtois and grandson, Jason McNulty. 

She leaves her children, Marylou MacLeod (late Bruce), Karen LaFountain (David), Deborah McNulty, all of Waltham, Barbara Sarazen (Donald), Robyn LaFrancis of Attleborough, Arthur J. Beck, Jr (late Deborah) of Auburn and Joan Battcock (Garry) of Billerica; her son-in-law, Douglas Frizzell of Haverhill; her sisters, Jacqueline Harrington and Mary Lou Rogers, both of Waltham; also survived by 11 grandchildren including Kelly Sabatino (Wayne), Sheila Sabatino (Richard), David LaFountain (Maricela), Jennifer DeRubeis (Brandon), Kari McNulty, Ashley Gullotti (Jon), Kristen Marone (John), Jeffrey Beck (Aime), Christopher and Andrew Battcock, Brandon Beck and many great-grandchildren; nieces & nephews. 

Family and friends will honor and remember Shirley’s life by gathering for an evening wake on Wednesday, August 28th from 4 to 7 p.m. in The Joyce Funeral Home, 245 Main Street, (Rte. 20), Waltham and again at 9 a.m. on Thursday morning before leaving in procession to Saint Mary’s Church, 133 School Street, Waltham where her Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Burial will follow in Calvary Cemetery, Waltham. 

Expressions of sympathy may be made to Mass General Cancer Center at Newton-Wellesley,  2014 Washington St, Newton, MA 02462 or https://www.nwh.org/mass-general-cancer-center/cancer-center