Shirley Shortall Friel, 93

Native and long-time resident of Centreville, Shirley Shortall Friel died on March 12, 2024 surrounded by family.

Shirley was born in 1930 to Thomas and Inez (Robinson) Shortall and raised in Centreville. She is survived by a daughter, Beryl (Friel) Eismeier and her husband Michael, and grandchildren Thomas, Julia and Chloe Eismeier.

As a young woman, Shirley loved to sail, skate and ski. She attended Goldie Beacom College, earning a business degree, and met her husband, Joseph Friel, while living in Wilmington, DE. Together they lived in Utah, and later Baltimore and Chestertown before returning to Centreville. Shirley was an avid horticulturalist and flower arranger and was an active member of the Chestertown Garden Club for nearly sixty years.

Shirley circumnavigated the globe aboard ship in 1980 and enjoyed sharing the stories of her travels. She and her husband, Joe, traveled several times to Ireland and made new friends as they traced their roots to the regions of Donegal and Kilkenny.

She was an active member of the Centreville High School Alumni Association and enjoyed the lasting friendships that began in her youth.

A funeral mass and celebration of life will be held at St. Peter the Apostle Church in Queenstown on Tuesday, March 19 at 11 am with visitation beginning at 10 am.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Centreville High School Alumni Association.

Arrangements by Galena Funeral Home of Stephen L. Schaech.