Alberta D.
(Doucette) Shanks, 94, of Main Street, Essex, wife of the late
Lawrence S. Shanks, died Sunday May 2, 2010 in her home following a
long illness.
Born in Essex August 26, 1915 daughter of the late Leander and Delia
(Hubbard) Doucette, she was raised in Essex, a 1932 graduate of the
former Rufus Choate High School. As a young woman she was employed
as a telephone operator in Essex. She was later employed at Sylvania
in Ipswich, and she worked partime as the Essex reporter for the
Salem News for many years. Married in 1944 to Lawrence Shanks, they
continued the operation of the former Chebacco Poultry Farm until
the mid 1970’s when they purchased the White Elephant Shop in Essex.
She was passionate about antiques. She and her late husband traveled
widely, buying, selling or simply enjoying the goods of their
vocation.
Mrs. Shanks was a lifelong communicant of St. John the Baptist
Church Catholic Church of Essex.
She
is survived by a son, Lawrence A. Shanks and his wife Janet; a
daughter, Pamela Davis and her husband Michael; four grandchildren,
Colby Davis and wife Crystal, Amanda Davis, Tim Shanks and wife
Diana, all of Essex and Beth Shanks of Gloucester; two great
grandchildren Sean Davis and Jenna Shanks and many nephews and
nieces. She was the sister of the late Ernest Doucette, Edith Goody
and Phyllis Doyle all formerly of Essex.
Her
funeral will be held Friday May 7, 2010 9 am from the
Whittier-Porter Funeral Home, 6 High Street, Ipswich, followed by a
Funeral Mass 10 am in St. John the Baptist Church, 52 Main St.,
Essex. Family and friends are respectfully welcomed. Visiting hours
are Thursday 4 to 8 pm. Interment will be in the Spring Street
Cemetery, Essex. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions in her
name may be made to VNA Hospice, Inc., 5 Federal St., Danvers, MA
01923.
