Shirley A. Chenevert

Our mother, Shirley Anne Bagley Chenevert, was born on July 10, 1921, in Detroit, Michigan. Having lost both her father and mother early in life, her grandmother raised “Peach” and her brother Bill near Holy Redeemer Church. In high school, Shirley showed a talent for writing; the nuns asked her to do “write-ups” for the school paper. She worked at the downtown Hudson’s department store, and met Basil Chenevert of St. Henry’s parish at a social mixer for young Catholics. They were married at Holy Redeemer and celebrated at the Dearborn Inn in September 1942.

They named their first son Bill, and Dad joined the Navy to serve on the submarine U.S.S. Menhaden as a fireman 1st class. Shortly after his return to their Lincoln Park upstairs flat at 803 Winchester, daughter Elaine arrived, followed later by Amy and Tina, Lori, and Tom. “Baz and Shirl” moved their growing family to 819 Winchester, a small house with an extra half-lot that quickly became the center of the universe for kids from blocks around.

Shirley was a full-time Mom who always did everything she could for her family and community. She organized bike parades on Decoration Day and July Fourth, followed by popcorn, kool-aid, and homemade cupcakes. She taught us how to sew, embroider, and make crafts, and we thoroughly enjoyed family trips to Caseville, Michigan, with our expanded-family VanderWorp cousins.

Christmas at 819 was like “The Christmas Story,” and Mom always found special gifts to tuck under a tree that we didn’t decorate until Christmas Eve. We were incredibly lucky to have such selfless, loving parents, but didn’t realize until years later just how fortunate we were.

Shirley and Basil were founding members of Good Shepherd parish. Together they spent countless hours raising funds for Good Shepherd Elementary school with amusement-ride festivals and Christian Mothers card parties. Mom wrote articles for the church paper, and edited a successful recipe cookbook called Delightful Cooking, which drew national media attention in “This Week” magazine. Her name also appeared as Editor of a handsome 84-page Siver Jubilee history of the parish.

Dad drew up plans to expand the size of 819 Winchester with two additions he constructed himself. There was an upstairs dormitory and a tiled basement with a lighted full-wall mural that attracted their many friends for festive dance parties.

Mom was a bit leery of sailing when Dad and Bill acquired their first sailboat, the Scarlet O, which he sailed from Lake St. Clair down the choppy Detroit River. Later she learned to love Canadian sunsets aboard their second sailboat, the Second Wind. Together they flew on Pan American Airways to Portugal, Rome, Capri, Jamaica, and the British Virgin Islands.

Mom had a gift for gardening, and she took floral training courses and worked for a while at a florist shop. All was going well, until the day when Dad stumbled on a leg weakened by ALS, Lou Gehrig’s Disease.

In sickness and in health, Mom’s devotion to Dad knew no bounds. With unfailing devotion and home-care aides who eventually were needed around the clock, Mom was there for Dad through fourteen years of progressive physical paralysis.

Because ALS does not affect the mind, Dad invented life-support and comfort devices so that he could live safely at home. “Amazin’ Baz” wrote letters by blinking his eyes to move the cursor on a special computer, and invented gear so that he could go sailing with Mom and the family crew on the Second Wind, respirator and all.

None of this would have been possible without Mom’s constant supervision and loving support. In May 1988 Mom received the Detroit Kiwanis Club’s “Take Time to Care” Award, presented as an engraved silver tray.

Shortly after we lost Dad in August 1994, Mom started to show signs of memory-robbing Alzheimer’s Disease. Family and neighbors watched over her until it was no longer safe to live at 819. A search for the best home possible brought her to Addington Place in Northville, Michigan, where she lived with love and excellent care for more than ten years.

One of Mom’s favorite sayings was, “Parents give to their children two things; one is roots and the other is wings.” We are forever proud of our beloved Mom, who nurtured us when we were small and encouraged us with love as we grew and started families of our own. We will miss seeing her beautiful blue eyes and smiles of recognition when we visited in recent years. Still, it is a comfort to know that she and Dad are together with God, enjoying peace and love forever.
Bill, Elaine, Amy, Tina, Lori, and Tom

Friends may visit the Schrader-Howell Funeral Home, 280 South Main Street, Plymouth on Sunday, May 7th, 2017 from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Visitation will continue on Monday, May 8th at St. Colette Catholic Church, 17600 Newburgh Road, Livonia from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the Funeral Mass at 10:30 a.m. Shirley will be laid to rest at Michigan Memorial Park Cemetery in Flat Rock, Michigan.

Memorial contributions may be made in memory of Shirley A. Chenevert to Alzheimer’s Association, Greater Michigan Chapter, 25200 Telegraph Road, Suite 100, Southfield, MI 48033-7443. Envelopes will be available at the Funeral Home.