Shirley Mae Dolan, of Lebanon, passed away on April 13, 2026, just eight days before her 91st birthday. With lifelong roots in New England, she was born and raised in New Hampshire. In later years, she lived in Connecticut before eventually settling in Rhode Island. She relocated to Pennsylvania 15 years ago. She was preceded in death by her sons, Dennis and Allen; and she is survived by her sons, Reggie, Michael, and Peter.

She had a talent for drawing and painting, and, at times, expressed her thoughts in poetry. Shirley enjoyed watching movies, shopping, and reading books by Mary Higgins Clark. She loved animals, especially her cat, Alex, who was, according to Shirley, just about the smartest cat who ever lived. She took pride in her appearance and was sometimes teased by family members for taking too long to get ready to go out. She would not leave the house until she had fixed her hair just right and selected the perfect outfit for the occasion.

During her working years, Shirley demonstrated competence and compassion through her work as a caregiver for the disabled young and the elderly. She also had a deep concern for those who were less fortunate. Her son, Michael, recalls times when she would stop to buy hamburgers for people on the street who appeared to be hungry.

Shirley had a strong instinct for survival through hard times and a fighting will to live, which was evident up to her last hours.

Funeral services will be held privately at the convenience of the family. Thompson Funeral Home Inc. is entrusted with the arrangements. The family welcomes your memories and messages in Thompson Funeral Home’s online guest book at thompsonfuneralhomelebanon.com.

At Thompson Funeral Home, four generations of the Thompson family have offered their knowledge, compassion, and experience while serving the families of the Lebanon area for the past 135 years.