Shirley A. Gilman

Shirley Ann Gilman passed away peacefully at her home in Windsor on September 3, 2026.

Born July 30, 1936, in Montpelier, Vermont, to Edgar Allen and Florence Margaret Jewett, she grew up in a beautiful home perched above Stowe Street in Waterbury, a place that remained part of the landscape of her early life and memories.

While attending Bay Path College, she met Roger Gilman, a Norwich University cadet, at a dance. They married in 1957 and eventually settled in Windsor, Vermont, where they raised five daughters, born within the span of seven years. Roger died in 2019.

She approached motherhood with remarkable aplomb. She volunteered as a homeroom mother, packed five brown bag lunches each school morning, sewed many outfits, baked homemade cookies and bread each week, and somehow managed to attend virtually every event in her daughters’ lives, including countless sporting events. Her home was always warm, welcoming and open to anyone who walked through the door, including the many friends of her children and grandchildren, as well as extended family members.

Shirley possessed great wisdom and an extraordinary intuition about people and life, yet she was never one to impose her opinions or offer unsolicited advice. She was a trusted mother, friend and confidante, and throughout her life she quietly nurtured and supported those around her. One of her talents and joys was playing the piano and singing, particularly Dionne Warwick songs.

She and Roger were devoted parents, but they also understood the importance of friendship and of making room in their lives to enjoy the people they loved. Over the years, they shared countless gatherings around the backyard pool, ski trips and many happy times with a close circle of friends, including Bob and Betty French, Sherman and Vivian Carter, Roland and Shirley Husband, and Ray and Bev Blake.

A longtime member of Old South Church, she also gave generously of her time through volunteer work and involvement in local civic organizations. An athlete in high school, she enjoyed tennis as an adult and, in her 50s, took up golf alongside Roger. Together they spent many happy days playing courses throughout Vermont and New Hampshire with friends and family.

For many years, Shirley enjoyed a part-time job as a bookkeeper for Stacy Fuel and Lumber, where she became very fond of members of the Stacy family.

Besides Roger, she was predeceased by her brother, Donald Jewett, and sister-in-law Annette; her brother- and sister-in-law, Arnold and Geraldine Gilman; and her nieces, Sheryl Lamberti and Laurie Jewett Devine.

She is survived by her five daughters: Jody-Ann of Windsor; Sara Lynn Swasey of Windsor; Mary Elizabeth (Carl) Dennis of Jericho; Jane Margaret Hoisington (Emerson) of Brownsville; Susan Andrea DuPlessis (Michael DiPhilippo) of Newry, Maine, and her nephews, Dale Gilman, Peter Jewett and Steven Jewett.

She is also survived by her seven grandchildren, all of whom she loved deeply: Ahren Erickson of Arlington, Vermont; Ian Dennis of Plantsville, Connecticut; Kirk Erickson of Greenwood, Maine; Leigh Erickson of Jamestown, Colorado; Margaret Hoisington of Brownsville, Vermont; Andrea Hoisington of Castlerock, Colorado; and Lauren Dennis of Waterbury, Vermont.

Her nine great-grandchildren are Adalie Erickson; Marley, Maya, Waylon and Walker Erickson; Zinnia and Zephyr Armstrong; Hadley Helfman; Declan Thurlo; and Ethan Dennis.

Above all, she created a life centered on family, friendship, home and quiet generosity. Her influence was never loud, but it was profound. She had a way of making those around her feel cared for, welcomed and understood, and the wisdom, steadiness and love she brought to her family will remain an enduring part of all who knew her.

In lieu of flowers please make a charitable donation to the Old South Church, 146 Main Street Windsor VT 05089