YARMOUTH — Shirley Smith Haapanen, 92, died peacefully Aug. 15 at Brentwood Nursing Home. A mother, grandmother, sister and friend, she will be remembered by many as a woman whose Christian faith guided her life.

Daughter of Ruby McIntyre Smith and Max Lee Smith, Haapanen was born in Stillwater in 1922 and graduated from Newport High School. She married her sweetheart from the school, Weikko W. Haapanen, on Oct. 28, 1945, and the two shared 59 years of marriage together before his death.

Shirley was a full-time homemaker and mother to Laurel, Liisa and Jon. She was also very active in her community and church. She served with her parent-teacher organization and was a member of the parents group for the American Field Service in Quincy, Massachusetts. She was host mother to many exchange students.

Besides her husband, she is predeceased by her son, Jon Haapanen, who died July 2, 1982.

Haapanen is survived by her daughters, Laurel Haapanen, of Norwood, Massachusetts, and Liisa Haapanen-Janelle, of Chelmsford, Massachusetts; her sisters, Edith Ruta, of Weymouth, Massachusetts, and Mary Darville, of LaGrange, Georgia; her sons-in-law, Rene Lopez and James Janelle; her grandsons, David Janelle, Andre Lopez and Adrian Lopez; her granddaughter, Katja Janelle; and many nieces and nephews.

A memorial service was held Aug. 22 at Lindquist Funeral Home, in Yarmouth. Burial will be in Newport at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to World Vision International, P.O. Box 9716, Federal Way, WA 98063, or to the Good Shepard Food Bank, 3121 Hotel Road, Auburn, ME 04210.


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