Shirley E. (Rydberg) Adams, 72, formerly of Elmwood Ave. died of Alzheimer’s Disease on March 9th, 2017, in Seabury Meadows Memory Support Center, Bloomfield, CT.

Her husband of 29 years, Dean J. Adams died in 1997. She leaves two daughters, Karen L. Hollant and her spouse, Richard of West Hartford, CT, and Donna R. Adams and her spouse, Kathy Phengrasamy of Millbury and San Francisco, CA; a brother, Kenneth Rydberg of Fairbanks, AK; a sister, Linda Rydberg of Auburn; seven grandchildren, Jack, Hunter, Cole, Dean, Sawyer, Noah, and Paige, as well as beloved friends and extended family who were all integral to her life. She was born in Worcester, daughter of John W. and Victoria K. (Grahn) Rydberg and graduated from Auburn High School.

Shirley was a secretary in the English Department at the College of the Holy Cross for close to 30 years. Prior to that she was the church secretary at her life-long church, Emanuel Lutheran Church. Shirley truly loved her Swedish Heritage. She enjoyed gardening, baking, knitting, and was very active in several committees at her church. She was usually the Scrabble champion of the family. She and her husband hosted Fresh Air Fund kids for several years, and their home was always open and welcoming to anyone passing through or in need of hospitality. She was an outstanding mom to her daughters, a caring sister, and a loving grandmother to all of her grandchildren.

Thank you to the caring, loving staff at Seabury Meadows and Masonicare Hospice.

Visiting Hours will be held Thursday, March 16 from 5 to 8PM in LINDQUIST LUNDIN Funeral Home, 36 Butler Street, Worcester. A Graveside Service will be held Friday, March 17 at 10AM in Worcester County Memorial Park, Paxton. A Memorial Service will follow at 11AM in Emanuel Lutheran Church, 200 Greenwood Street. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in her name may be made to Emanuel Lutheran Church or ALS Association at ALSA.org.