Shirley Achorn, 86

Jul 6, 2014

Shirley H. "Tootsie" (Adams) Achorn, 86, of Rochester died July 4 at home after a long illness surrounded by her family.

She was the wife of Carl A. Achorn.

Born in New Bedford, the daughter of the late Walter C. and Annie (Batacao) Adams, she lived in New Bedford and Dartmouth before moving to Rochester in 1976.

She enjoyed spending time with family and friends, baby sitting, driving her Nissan 300ZX, the company of her dogs and she always looked forward to the spring season for her love of gardening. A devout Catholic, she was extremely compassionate to all and she will be missed by many.

Her family would like to thank her granddaughter Marcia and her companion Louis for providing excellent care to Shirley during her illness.

Survivors include her husband; her eight children, W. Wayne Roberts of Chester, Mass., Daniel D. Roberts and his wife Sandra of South Dartmouth, Scott S. Roberts and his wife Kathleen of Monument Beach, Mass., Mark M. Roberts and his wife Mary and Jeffrey J. Roberts and his wife Laurie, all of Fairhaven, Melinda M. Roberts and her husband Louis Oliveira of Freetown, Melissa M. Farland and her husband David of Acushnet and Carl C. Achorn and his wife Jennifer of Rochester; a daughter-in-law, Carolyn Roberts of Fairhaven; a sister, Beverly Michaud of New Bedford; 21 grandchildren; 33 great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was the mother of the late Glenn G. Roberts and the sister of the late Donald Adams.

The funeral from the Saunders-Dwyer Home for Funerals, 495 Park St. New Bedford is set for Wednesday at 8:45 a.m. The funeral Mass at St. Rose of Lima Church in Rochester is scheduled for 10 a.m. Visiting hours are Tuesday from 4-8 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital, 501 St Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.