SHIRLEY JUNE (PALMER) WISELL

MIDDLEBURY — Shirley June (Palmer) Wisell, 90, of Middlebury, Vt., passed away peacefully Feb. 26, 2026, at Porter Hospital after a brief illness. She was born June 28, 1935, to Chester and Alma Mae Palmer.

Shirley grew up in East Middlebury, Vt., and attended Middlebury High School, graduating in 1952.

She married Leo James “Jim” Wisell Nov. 20, 1955. Together they had three boys — Michael, John and Gary.

She was an accomplished seamstress. She could also crochet anything. In fact, she even crocheted Christmas Trees. Her nephew, Steven Thulin of Erie, Pa., marvels every year on social media about his beloved Aunt Shirley and the crocheted Christmas tree she made for him. The trees even had lights.

When her children were in high school, she took a job as a dispatcher for the veterinarian Alan Marston in Weybridge. She became very close with the Marstons during her 20-year employment with them. She often took trips to their vacation home in Maine. She stayed in touch with them over the years after Dr. Marston retired.

She had a great love for East Middlebury, where she grew up. She chronicled the changes that took place there and she loved to regale people with her fondest childhood memories of events that occurred there.

She is survived by her three sons, Michael and his wife Ira of Cleburne, Texas; Jay and his wife Patty of Venture, Calif.; and Gary and his wife Eva of Ripton, Vt.; and her nephew Steven Thulin and his partner Alan of Erie, Pa., who she always thought of as her fourth son.

Shirley was devoted to her family. She was loving and kind to all. She will be greatly missed.

There will be no service, but there will be a celebration of her life at the American Legion Hall in Middlebury on a date to be determined and announced at another time.◊