Dateline – Freeport

Shirley Ann (O’Connell) Tuttle, 65, of Freeport, died Friday evening, September 22, 2017 at Hawthorne House in Freeport. She was born in Biddeford on April 3, 1952, a daughter of Thomas Frederick and Hazel Ruth (Berg) O’Connell. She grew up in Wells, graduating from Wells High School, Class of 1970. Shirley earned her Bachelor’s Degree in teaching from the University of Southern Maine. Following college, she taught elementary school in Berwick for several years.

She married David Tuttle of Riverside Farm in South Berwick in 1973 and they had three children; Michelle, Ryan and Jason. Her children were the lights of her life and she enjoyed letting them know that by welcoming them with joy and excitement each time they entered her presence.

Her life was not without its challenges but Shirley’s perseverance and incredible sense of humor were admired and appreciated by all those she knew and loved. She had a gift for making every person, no matter their past or current circumstances, feel important and respected. She was incredibly generous and would give you her last two dollars or the sweater off her shoulders if she thought you needed it more.

She adored her Mother, Hazel, and spent many days with her walking Drake’s Island beach in Wells, where she grew up with her five siblings. She loved lobster and coffee, in no particular order. She dreamed of becoming the ‘world’s greatest artist’ and her loved one’s rest assured God is putting her talents to great use in Heaven.

She is survived by two sons, Ryan Tuttle of North Berwick, Jason Tuttle and wife Kate of Portsmouth, NH; her daughter, Michelle Harrington and husband Gregg of North Berwick; her brother, Dan O’Connell and wife Margaret of Wells; four sisters, Sharon Newell and husband Jack of Wells, Susan O’Connell-Bashaw and husband Charlie of Wells, Carol Smith and husband Stanley of Acton, Nancy O’Connell of MA; seven grandchildren, Grace, David, Jessie, Esther, Charlie, Baden, and Kai.

There are no public services planned.

Should friends choose, memorial donations in her name are encouraged to: Shalom House, Inc. 106 Gilman Street, Portland, ME 04102.
Shalom House helps hundreds of people with serious mental illness each year by providing an array of community-based mental health services and a choice of affordable quality housing where people can escape the stress of homelessness, hunger, and isolation. 4102

To share a memory or leave a message of condolence, please visit Shirley’s Book of Memories page at www.bibberfuneral.com.

Arrangements are in care of Bibber Memorial Chapel, 67 Summer Street, Kennebunk, ME. www.bibberfuneral.com