Doreen Porter Sheppard, 68, formerly of Cambridge, died on Thursday October 5, 2006 at her home after a prolonged battle with ovarian cancer.
She was born in Bradford, England, on July 4, 1938, the daughter of Stanley and Emily Porter. After graduating from Highfield School in 1954 and working as a secretary, she ventured to the United States in 1960, where she found work as a parent's helper.
In 1961 she married Arthur Le Roy Sheppard, formerly of Cambridge, with whom she had three children. In 1974 she divorced and began working as a waitress at Legal Sea Foods. In 1980 she became a medical records coder at what was then Cambridge City Hospital. During this time, she continued working at night as a waitress to support her family, not retiring from Legal Sea Foods until 1990 and from Cambridge City in 2000.
She moved to Reading in 1996 to live with her son-in-law Kevin and daughter Carol and help with the grandchildren.
She was a devoted mother, grandmother, and wife, providing selfless love, emotional and financial support to friends and family. One noted example of this was the many years of care she provided her former husband after he incurred debilitating injuries as a result of complications from bypass surgery.
She held firmly to the belief that one should always "do the right thing," a value which led her to correct injustices big and small on a daily basis. It is a value which she has instilled in her children and grandchildren.
She also found time for simple pleasures such as reading, bingo, infrequent trips to casinos, a nice cup of tea, good chocolate, even an early morning workout with her friends at Curves.
She is survived by son John Porter Sheppard and his wife Dr. Denise Fitzpatrick ofLafayette Hill Pa.; daughter Carol-Jean Sheehan and her husband Kevin Sheehan of Reading and daughter Heather Lynn Baileyand her husband Michael Bailey of Milford NH; sister Jean Kirkby of Bradford,England, grandson Kevin Sheehan; and granddaughters Megan Sheehan, Elizabeth Sheppard, and Abigail Sheppard; Sister's in law Susanna Sheppard, Sheila Burns and Joanne Sheppard and Brother in Law Frank Sheppard and dear friend Anna McAllister of Somerville.
Donations may be made in her memory to Mission of Deeds, 6 Chapin Avenue, Reading, MA 01867 or to St. Athanasius c/o the Pew Enhancement Fund.
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