NEW BEDFORD-Shirley (Doane) Beck age 87 of New Bedford passed away on November 10 ,2023 at St Luke’s Hospital surrounded by her loving family.

She was predeceased by her beloved husband Dennis E. Beck. They shared 63 years of marriage before his passing in 2020.

Born in Torrington CT she was the daughter of the late Lloyd and Gertrude (Sears) Doane and was a graduate of Chatham High School and St. Luke’s School of Nursing.

 Shirley was an RN at St. Lukes prior to starting her family. She and Dennis opened Beck’s Seafood Market and Restaurant in Dartmouth until they retired and sold the business in 1994. In retirement she was a substitute school nurse for the New Bedford school system.

She and her family were residents of Bayview in Dartmouth for 32 years and then resided in Tiverton, RI and wintered in Pompano Beach, FL. She returned to New Bedford in 2017.

Shirley was an active member of Grace Episcopal Church, early on in the 20/30 club taking part in rummage sales, minstrel- shows, church suppers and later volunteering in Martha’s Food Pantry. She is a member of Ladies Branch of the New Bedford Port Society, St. Luke’s Alumni and Ladies Auxiliary. She was life member of the National Grange.

She was also predeceased by her son, Dennis E. Beck II of New Bedford and her sister, Blanche Havey of Needham.

She is survived by her daughter Katherine Lafland and her husband Roger of Southington, CT, her grandchildren Jason and Jordan Lafland and Zackary Beck and a niece Shirley Anderson of N H. She is also survived by her step-grandchildren, Kim, Chris and Nathan and many friends.

The family wishes to gratefully thank the staff at St. Luke’s Hospital for their wonderful care and compassion. Also, all her dear friends and church family for their help and love which helped to keep her independence.

In lieu of flowers remembrances may be made in Shirley’s name to Martha’s Food Pantry of Grace Episcopal Church, 133 School St. New Bedford, MA 02740.

A celebration of Shirley's life will be conducted in Grace Episcopal Church on Saturday, November 25, 2023 at 1:00 P.M. followed by a reception in the parish house.

Funeral arrangements committed to the care of WILSON CHAPEL at AUBERTINE-LOPES FUNERAL HOME, 129 Allen St., New Bedford.