Douglas J. Shannon, 85, of Paxton, passed away peacefully on Friday, March 22, 2024, while surrounded by his loving family at UMass Hospital.

Douglas is survived by his loving wife and best friend of sixty-two years, Marlene M. (DeCoteau) Shannon; three children, Brenda A. Shannon and her husband Adam Edelsberg of Providence, RI, Douglas J. Shannon of Paxton, and Michael J. Shannon of New York City; five grandchildren, Amelia and Olive Edelsberg, Douglas Shannon, Sam Shannon, and Myles Shannon and his wife Joyce Guillen, and their daughter, Ariadne.  He was pre-deceased by his brother, Ronald J. Shannon.  Douglas was born in Worcester, son of the late Joseph and Ida (Dahrooge) Shannon.  He graduated from Saint Peter’s High School and Massachusetts College of Pharmacy in Boston.

Douglas worked as a pharmacist for fifty years before stepping back to pursue the many projects he looked forward to completing during his retirement.

He was a skilled woodworker and could build almost anything.  He took great pride in projects both big and small, from building his family home in Paxton, a project he completed alongside his father, to the special tree house he designed and built for his grandchildren.  He also enjoyed the landscaping and garden projects he worked on with his wife, Marlene.

Douglas has a wonderful sense of humor and had a joke or funny story to share with whomever he met.  He enjoyed spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren.

Calling Hours for Douglas will be on Thursday morning, March 28, from 9:30 a.m. until 11: 30 a.m., when a prayer service will begin, all taking place in MERCADANTE FUNERAL HOME & CHAPEL, 370 Plantation Street, Worcester, followed.  Interment will follow at Worcester County Memorial Park in Paxton.

In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to Saint Jude Children’s Research Hospital.