May 27, 1931 - April 14, 2023
Shirley Ada McMahon (Baggaley) passed away peacefully on Friday April 14, 2023 at the age of 91.
Born in Hamilton, NJ on May 27, 1931, she was a lifelong Hamilton resident, residing in the same Hamilton home she was born in, built by her parents Elmer and Laura (Belmont) Baggaley. Shirley was a Hamilton High School West graduate, Class of 1949. She also worked at Hamilton High School West in the Main Office as the Principal’s Secretary from 1972 until 1994.
Predeceased by her daughter Robin L. Buchko and son Patrick D. McMahon, and her brothers Elmer (Bertha) Baggaley, and William (Harriet) Baggaley.
She is survived by her loving husband Rodger H. McMahon; son, Timothy (Donna) McMahon of Hamilton, NJ; daughter, Kathleen (David) Adams of Lambertville, NJ; 10 grandchildren, Christine Buchko (Michael), Jillian Trought (Ben), Beth Buchko (Johnnie), Timothy McMahon (Jamie), Kelley Paletko (Pawel), Ryan McMahon (Ashley), Sean McMahon (Alexandra), Dana Stadtmueller (Kevin), Justin Adams (Melissa) and Laura Adams; 11 great grandchildren, James and Lacey Trought, Chase and Landon McMahon, Maskym and Arabella Paletko, Eleanor and Evelyn McMahon, Mason, Connor and Delaney McMahon; brother, Jack Baggaley (Barbara) of Concord, NH; sisters-in-law, Eileen Snyder of Whiting, NJ, and Alma McMahon of Hamilton, NJ; and many nieces and nephews who always considered her their very favorite “Aunt Shirl”.
Shirley’s life revolved around her family always putting everyone before herself, being a kind, caring and devoted Wife, Mother, Grandmother and Great Grandmother. She was the most perfect Mom, Momma, G-mom, Grandma and MeMom, always with love in her heart and wise words of advice for all her family. Shirley was by far the sweetest, purest and most caring woman to all who had the pleasure of knowing her.
In retirement, Shirley enjoyed traveling, driving all over the U.S. searching out lighthouses and coastal towns from Maine to Michigan, to Oregon and California and up and down the entire east coast. She was an avid baker and cook, hosting all the family holiday dinners, seamstress, bird watcher and catalog shopper. In recent years her happy place was at home with her husband, either in her favorite chair or on her front porch looking out over the lake.
Her marriage to the love her life Rodger is a love story for the ages, meeting in the 6th grade walking to Lalor School together, he charmed her by offering to carry her books and then they attending Hamilton High West together, getting married on July 23, 1952 at the ages of 20 and 21. They have spent over 71 years of love and laughter together, creating a long lasting legacy of a close-knit family and proving that love can conquer all and it is that deep unconditional love that will continue in the hearts of those she has left behind, until we all meet again.
Visitation for family and friends will be held on Thursday, April 20, 2023 from 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. at the Buklad-Merlino Memorial Home, 2141 South Broad Street, Hamilton.
Funeral services will be held on Friday, April 21, 2023 at 10:30 a.m. at the Memorial Home.
Burial will follow in Colonial Memorial Park
In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the following organizations in Shirley’s memory:
Samaritan Hospice Center: https://samaritannj.org/donate-now, or by mail, Samaritan Gift Processing Center, PO Box 71425, Philadelphia, PA 19176-1425
American Lighthouse Foundation: https://lighthousefoundation.org/how-to-help/support/donate/ or by mail, American Lighthouse Foundation, P.O. Box 565, Rockland, ME, 04841
Delaware Valley Golden Retriever Rescue: https://dvgrr.org/shop/donation/
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OMG. I don't know that I have ever read such a beautiful obit. Made me verklempt. I wish I could write like that. 6th GRADE??? WOW! That's like a fairy tale. Who does that? Amazing story. R.I.P. to my aunt Shirley.