Shirley T. (Solari) Corrette

Bonjour! Shirley T. Corrette, 86, died on 08/19/2023 after a period of
declining health. She was a resident of Bristol for over 35 years, and
spent her final few years at Meredith Bay Colony Club in Meredith, NH.
Shirley Solari was born on August 19, 1936, in Marlborough,
Massachusetts, to Emilio Germano and Louise Solari, the middle of
five children. She graduated from high school North Hampton in 1954,
and Plymouth Teachers' College in 1958.
In 1956, Shirley married her life-long confidante and friend, George A
Corrette II. They enjoyed 58 years of married life together. They instilled the values of hard
work and honesty in their three children and set an example of true love and compassion in all
they did.
Shirley first taught at Pittsfield Elementary School, NH. Upon the arrival of their first child in
1959, Shirley took a hiatus from professional life to care for their new family. In the early 1960’s
Shirley and George moved to Laconia, purchased their first home and soon added two more
children. In exchange for tuition, Shirley taught French at Mrs. Conway’s pre-school with her
good friend Eva Beane. George’s promotion to school district administrator at the Interlakes
school system prompted a move to Meredith. This was a busy time. Shirley maintained her
teaching certification by substitute teaching, while volunteering at Golden View Nursing Home,
and caring for her family. A final move to Bristol brought continued volunteering, substitute
teaching and involvement in her church.
Shirley was a lifelong Catholic who volunteered within the church in many capacities. She
taught catechism in Laconia and Meredith and, with George, guided teenagers through
Confirmation classes in Bristol. Shirley was very active in the Women’s Club at St. Timothy’s
Church, and was also a lay minister for the parish.
Dates and accomplishments cannot really capture the inimitable person Shirley was. It wasn’t
so much what she did, but how she did it! Her love for her husband and he for her defined their
remarkable marriage. As she would say, ‘We each cared for the other and so had all we
needed.’ Extraordinarily organized, Shirley earned the designation. “Executive Mother”. She
played a fierce game of Scrabble, made a mean fruitcake, and loved chocolate so much that her
children learned early to guard their Easter candies. She entertained with her ability to snap a
banana in half with her bare hands, and she never lost her ability and willingness to correct
grammatical errors.
Shirley continued to hike and cross-country ski with her husband into their 70’s and
accompanied her son on bushwhacks into her mid-80’s. She was ‘the woman who walked’ at
her Assisted Living in later years. To the end of her days, Shirley continued to share her joy and
enduring buoyancy, her ability to laugh and her spontaneous songs with all around her. She
was as colorful as the bright colors she loved to wear.
Shirley is predeceased by her husband and son, George II and George III. Survivors include her
daughters Kimberly and Stephanie. She leaves five grandchildren, Elena, Savannah, Tenzing,
Madeline and Dove. She is also survived by her sister Janet and her brother Bob, and
numerous cousins, nieces, nephews and in-laws.

Services-A Mass of Christian Burial will be Celebrated by Fr. Mark Dollard, Thursday, August 24, 2023, at 10 AM at Our Lady of Grace Chapel of Holy Trinity Parish, 2 West Shore Rd., Bristol, NH.  Burial will follow in Homeland Cemetery, Bristol.  For those who wish, donations may be made to the Minot-Sleeper Library Book Fund, 35
Pleasant St, Bristol, NH, 03222; Holy Trinity Parish (Our Lady of Grace Chapel,
17 West Shore Road, Bristol, NH, 03222) or the Lakes Region Visiting Nurse Association, 186
Waukewan St, Meredith, NH 03253; ( https://lrvna.org/donate).

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