Shirley E. Chase of New Bedford passed away on Saturday, February 16, 2019. Born in Acushnet, Massachusetts to John and Grace (Kinney) Chase on April 21, 1944, she lived in the Greater New Bedford and Rochester areas her entire life. Shirley loved helping people and generously gave of her time, talent and treasure. Professionally, she was a customer service representative for Liberty Mutual Insurance and for Peter Briggs Insurance agency. Shirley was part of the “lunch ladies” at Old Rochester Regional High School helping to feed the school community and loved being with the kids. She also worked for several retail stores and ran her own cleaning business. Upon retirement, she found great joy in being a caretaker for family and others in need, another example of her selflessness and a tribute to her very meaningful life. Shirley was a fun, fiercely independent and loving woman. She loved being a mother, grandmother and great grandmother. Her biggest joy was spending time with her family and taking care of her grandchildren and great grandchildren. She was pre-deceased by her sister Ginny Inman and her two brothers Linton Chase and John (Jobey) Chase. She leaves two daughters, Catherine Golas (and her husband Chris) of Hampton Falls, New Hampshire, and Lynne Arruda (and her husband Peter) of Acushnet, and a son Jason Barrow (and his wife Carrie) of Lunenburg, Massachusetts; Grandchildren Jennifer Carreras (and her husband Noel), Nathan and Seth Arruda (and his wife Tesia), Quinn Bowman-Golas, Jacob Golas, and Jack Barrow; Great grandchildren; Kailani, Josiah, Levi, Maelyn, and Isaiah Carreras. In addition she also leaves several nieces and nephews and two loving sisters Elodie Walmsley and Winona Avila. According to her wishes there will be no viewing and burial services private. Her children invite all who had the privilege of knowing her to a memorial celebration of her loving, generous and service-filled life to be held on April 28, 2019 at Buttonwood Community Center 1 Oneida St New Bedford, MA from 3-6 pm. In lieu of flowers, per Shirley’s wishes, donations can be made to the St. Jude Children’s Reasearch Hospital at www.saintjude.org/donate
