Wilhelmina R. Shaw

Wilhelmina Shaw, 93, of Valley Road, Middletown, RI, died peacefully on Wednesday, September 30, 2009.Born in Nantucket, MA, on July 31, 1916, she was the daughter of the late Patrick and Anastasia Kiely Robinson. She returned for summers to Nantucket during the last 59 years. Wilhelmina married Robert T. Shaw, USN, of Greensboro, NC, who served in the Navy Submarine service. During World War II she led the life of a navy wife while working at a shipyard in San Francisco. Over the years, Wilhelmina became proficient in the home arts. She became an expert in tailoring, knitting, crocheting, tatting and refinishing furniture. She shared these skills generously with family and friends. Her talent as a teacher was demonstrated at Swinburne School where she taught classes in rughooking for 25 years. She hooked over 50 rugs and decorative accessories. Wilhelminas impact was of such a nature that her three daughters all became teachers impacting education in the elementary, middle and high school environment in Rhode Island, Texas and Maryland.She is survived by three daughters, Sandra Finerty and husband John, Roberta Conti and husband Al and Martha Chrisp and husband David, ten grandchildren and twelve great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by her husband, Robert T. Shaw and son, Robert T. Shaw, Jr.Family and friends are invited for visitation at St. Lucys Catholic Church, West Main Road, Middletown, RI Saturday, October 3, 2009, from 9:00-10:00am. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated following visitation at 10:00 am at St. Lucys. Burial will be at Newport Memorial Park.In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Potter League of Newport, PO Box 412, Newport, RI 02840 or Beacon Hospice, 529 Main Street, Suite 101, Charlestown, MA 02129.