Shirley T. Wise

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Shirley T. Wise, 92 yrs, of Newton, passed on March 25, 2025, joining her beloved husband David M. Wise. She is the daughter of the late Lillian (Golden) Applebaum and sister of the late Barbara Malfy. She was also the beloved mother of Betsy (Steve Cohen) and Howard (Janice) and the late Peter (Terry Wilson). Shirley was also the grandmother of Scott Barczewski (Nicole), Dana Barczewski (JD), David, Luke and Samuel Wise, Nicole Johnston and Max Wise (Marissa). She is survived by 8 great grandchildren.

Shirley was born in Dorchester but would say her life began when she met “my David”, the love of her life. Her happiest days were when she moved into the attic of the Wise house with her new husband. There were many Wises and one bathroom, yet she boasted that there were never fights. That was the way she and her husband conducted themselves, always. Her children swear their parents never fought in front of them.

Shirley and David raised three children in Framingham and the Waban section of Newton MA. They reveled in their children’s, grandchildren’s and great grandchildren’s lives. They bought a beautiful home in Falmouth MA and had many happy long weekends with their family and Cape friends. She was a “super mom” volunteering at Hadassah, in Children’s Hospital and, for the Children’s Hospital League.

When tragedy struck and David died young in 1988, and her son Peter passed in 1999, Shirley faced challenges but always carried herself with grace. She would pull herself together, snap her fingers and announce “Showtime!” Eventually she moved to Florida, where she lived in Boca Raton. She improved her golf game and would always “putt for dough.” Some of her favorite memories included teaching her grandson Scott to golf, the Passover potato eating challenge and bargains.

Shirley might have been 5 feet tall but she carried herself with twice the stature, like someone that “owned the place.”  She loved travel and saw much of the world in her later years. She loved old movies and was an avid follower of the news. She sought out intelligent conversation and would often engage strangers in conversation. Above all she was ferociously proud of her kids, grandkids and great grandkids that could do no wrong.

Her funeral was held on Thursday, March 27, 2025 at Sharon Memorial Park. The service was livestreamed. The link to view the funeral can be found at www.brezniakfd.com. In lieu of flowers, donations in Shirley’s memory may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital www.stjude.org , or the charity of your choice.