Mary Shropshire

Mary Bridget Shropshire, a resident of Manahawkin, NJ, died on Thursday, June 11, 2015 at Southern Ocean Hospital.  Born in Philadelphia on January 16, 1926 to William and Margaret Whelan, she graduated from Hallahan Catholic Girls High School and worked for the Bell Telephone Company in Philadelphia before she was married in 1956. She was an avid lover of coffee, television, musicals, mystery books, songbirds, eagles, fresh air and cigarettes.  Fiercely independent, with a great sense of humor and a generous spirit, she loved her children more than anything.

She is survived by her children, Mary Anne (Robert Petrucelli Jr.) Shropshire; Susan (Joseph Bowden) Shropshire; and Joseph (Rebecca) Shropshire; her nieces, Maryjo (Robert) Hansen and Margaret Iaccio; great-niece Michelle (Heath) Per; great- grandnieces Maya Per and Devyn Per; and her great-nephew Robert (Tiffany) Hansen III.  She is also survived by two sisters, Margaret Iaccio and Joan Dixon; nieces Judy (Michael) Johnson and Donna (Frank) DeAngelis; nephews Edward (Kathy) Strudwick, William (Sandra) Strudwick and Robert Gibison; and many great-nieces and great-nephews including Beau James, Danny James, Michael Johnson, Ashley Johnson, Daniel Iaccio Jr., Marissa DeAngelis, Nicole DeAngelis, Candi Strudwick and Ginger Strudwick. Numerous other relatives and friends also survive.

She was the beloved wife of the late Elwood Shropshire and was predeceased by a brother who died in childhood, James Whelan; by her brother and sister-in-law William (Bill) and Marie Whelan; her sister, Dorothy Strudwick; her brothers-in-law, Edward Strudwick, Rocco Iaccio and Joseph Stuart Shropshire; her sister-in-law Betty Gibison; her niece, Karen (Fred) James and her nephew, Daniel Iaccio Sr.

Her family would like to thank all of Mary’s caregivers, nurses and doctors at Genesis, Griswold and Southern Ocean for the great care and comfort they provided to her during her time with them.

Services will be private.  Remembrances may be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital.