Shirley Ann Estabrooks

South Portland - Shirley Ann Estabrooks, 78, of 109 Ridgeland Avenue passed away peacefully on January 4, 2023 surrounded by loved ones and friends after a courageous battle with cancer. She was born on November 11, 1944 in Woodstock, New Brunswick, Canada, the daughter of Myrtle (Hayes) Nickerson and Kenneth Estabrooks, naturalized in 1973 in Providence, Rhode Island and eventually made her way to Maine. Shirley came from a family of eighteen siblings. Seven of the eighteen are surviving and are scattered throughout the United States and Canada. She is survived by her children, Constance Audrey Van Patten of Grantsburg, Indiana and Vernon Paul Van Patten, Jr. of Ledyard, Connecticut; her sister, Constance Giannetto and her husband, Ronald of Dixfield, Maine and their daughter, Amy Cox, also of Dixfield; a nephew, Thomas Carver and his wife, Cheryl of Westbrook, Maine; and many more cousins, nieces, and nephews. Shirley was a graduate of Portland High School and had many jobs throughout the years. One of her later jobs was in medical research at Maine Medical Center in Portland, Maine. While many do not know this, Shirley was quite athletic. She played softball and was in a local bowling league for years. Her prize bowling ball had the imprint of her beloved Portland Headlight on it. (We will return to the lighthouses later). Once, after being away from her golf game for years, she picked up a driver and hit her ball off of the tee box, where, with great accuracy, drove that ball a jaw-dropping distance! If she was not playing ball, she was always ready to enjoy a great football game, even if it meant listening on the radio. Shirley always found joy in the simple pleasures of life. Strawberry sundaes at the local Dairy Queen, a walk to the beach or a lighthouse, listening to all genres of music, or praying a rosary at Calvary Cemetery. One of her greatest pleasures in amongst all of this was photography. She enjoyed capturing the beauty of God’s creation in every season -- whether a spectacular field of wildflowers in the spring, a lovely rose in the summer, or a cloud with a silver lining in the fall. Shirley’s magnetic love of lighthouses was so strong she made it a point to “brake” for them, even in the worst of conditions. She has visited and photographed many of them up and down the coastline of New England. Her persistent efforts in capturing the perfect photo made you want to learn her techniques. She also created beautiful jewelry which included necklaces, earrings, and bracelets of which she gifted to so many. Shirley’s love of God and God’s love for her was a guiding light through the hills and valleys of her life. And it was in the valleys that she began to realize that Jesus “is the Lighthouse” who guided her with His loving protection along her journey. She was a dear sister in Christ, daughter of Mary Immaculata, and a beautiful prayer warrior. Shirley had a precious gift and great talent to make beautiful rosaries and chaplets, for which many of the beads have passed through the hands of those who were blessed to receive one as a gift from her. She was on the Service Team of the Magnificat-Scarborough Maine Chapter serving as their Historian and also gave an amazing “witness” of her own life with her sister, Connie, at her side for support. Shirley was actively involved in overseeing the Eucharistic Adoration Ministry at St. Maximilian Kolbe Church and cherished many hours before our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament. Shirley will be deeply missed by her family and friends. She had a very humble and gentle, kind and loving spirit, which made all who knew her feel the peaceful presence of the Holy Family surrounding them as she welcomed everyone into her life with unconditional love. As we mourn her death, let us also rejoice in remembrance of her life and the memories each of us were blessed to share with her. Shirley carried her cross with great courage and love, surrendering her spirit into the Father’s Hands with peace. May her courageous testimony continue to reach the dark crevices to give hope to the hopeless and joy to the joyless for which our hope comes from the Lord. Shirley was a living example of what it means to live a life for God while leaving footprint memories and life lessons to all of us. A visiting hour will be held from 8-9AM on Mon., Jan. 9, at the Conroy-Tully Walker South Portland chapel. Prayers will begin in the chapel at 9:15am, followed by a 10AM Mass of Christian Burial at St. Maximilian Kolbe Church, 150 Black Point Road, Scarborough. The Mass will livestreamed at www.facebook.com/ConroyTullyWalker . Burial will follow at Calvary Cemetery and a reception will be held at St. Maximilian Kolbe’s reception hall. To view Shirley's memorial page, or to share an online condolence, please visit www.ConroyTullyWalker.com Memorial contributions may be made in Shirley's memory to LifeSiteNews.com, Inc., 4 Family Life Lane, Front Royal, VA 22630