Shirley Callan

Dr. Shirley Forrest Callan, 73 of Wilmington died Monday evening February 1, at the Sawtelle Family Hospice House in Reading. Born in Stoneham July 5, 1936 she was the daughter of the late George E. and Gertrude O. (Kelloway) Forrest.


Shirley was raised in Wakefield. She was a graduate of Wakefield High School class of 1954. Shirley began her career in education at Merrimack College, graduating Summa Cum Laude in 1981. She received her Master's in Counseling and Consulting Psychology from Harvard in 1982 and her Doctorate (EdD) from Harvard focused on Teaching, Curriculum and Learning Environments in 1988.

Shirley has been the Director of the Methuen Public School and Adult Education Program since it's inception in 1991. The program began with 20 students with Shirley as teacher and administrator. Today the program serves over 200 adult learners each year with a staff of five. Over the years the program has provided basic education, GED preparation and English as a Second Language classes for thousands of students including ESL students from 32 different countries speaking 19 different languages. Prior to her employment in Methuen Shirley worked in the City of Lowell on Project Intercede, a Department of Justice Program for at risk youth and the Lowell Futures program.

Shirley was involved in numerous civic activities as well as elected positions in the Town of Wilmington, serving on the Board of Library Trustees from 1969-1985 and the Wilmington School Committee from 1984-1994. She was committed to the preservation of historic buildings in Wilmington. She served on the Wilmington Historical Commision and was instrumental in the Town of Wilmington acquiring the Historic Harden Tavern.
Shirley had a natural gift for making every person she came in contact with feel special. The cards, letters, phone calls and visitors she received during her illness show the impact that she made in the life of every person she touched.

Shirley is survived by her three sons, David F. Callan of Swampscott, Christopher M. Callan of Port Orange, FL, and Jeffrey L. Callan of Nashua, NH, her sister, Nancy A. Dunleavy of Salem, dear friends Tony and Barbara Zeimetz. She is also survived by several nieces, nephews and colleagues.

The funeral will be held from the McDonald Funeral Home, 19 Yale Ave., Wakefield on Friday at 10:30am followed by a Funeral Mass in St. Joseph Church, 173 Albion St., Wakefield at 11:30am. Relatives and friends may call at the Funeral Home on Thursday 4-8pm. Interment, Forest Glade Cemetery, Wakefield.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Methuen Adult Education Program, Currier School, 36 Boylston St., Methuen, MA 01844.

Read Shirley Callan's Obituary and Guestbook on www.mcdonaldfs.com.

Visitation

McDonald Funeral Home
19 Yale Ave.
Wakefield , MA US 01880
Thursday, February 4, 2010, 4:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Service

St. Joseph Church
173 Albion Street
Wakefield , MA US 01880
Friday, February 5, 2010, 11:30 AM

Cemetery

Forest Glade Cemetery
Lowell Street
Wakefield , MA US 01880
Friday, February 5, 2010, 12:45 PM