CANTON – A former resident of United Helpers
Maplewood campus was remembered on Friday at an event that friends said was a
fitting tribute to the woman they knew.
The first annual Shirley Wells Memorial Concert was held at
Maplewood, as residents were joined for the concert by Society Board Members,
United Helpers Administrators and even members of Ms. Wells’ family.
“We’re having a concert today to celebrate Shirley Wells,”
said United Helpers Development Director Lori Smithers. “She was involved with
many things in the community and had a longtime, deep love of music.”
Board member Marti MacArthur was a close friend of Ms. Wells
and spoke prior to the beginning of the day’s performance.
“Shirley was always interested in music and sang in a choir
of some sort her whole life from early on until a few months before she died,
when she was still singing in the Presbyterian Church choir,” she said.
“Playing piano all her life, she played for several organizations, including
the high rise building in Canton, church services at United Helpers and for the
Order of the Eastern Stars, of which she was a member.”
Ms. MacArthur said though, Ms. Wells most enjoyed playing for
children and specifically her students at Banford Elementary in Canton.
“Shirley probably liked playing most for her kindergarten
classes, when she was a teacher, as she played songs for them all day, many of
which she made up herself.”
Ms. Well’s love of music occasionally took her out of the
north country, but Ms. MacArthur said she always returned home to Canton
“Shirley grew up going to many big shows in New York City,
but always supported all of the concerts and musicals in the area,” she said.
“Music was a very big part of Shirley’s life and this is a wonderful way to
celebrate her life.”
Performing at the first annual event was the Noteworthy
Handbell Choir, who played a variety of sacred and secular music including a
unique version of Led Zeppelin’s “Stairway to Heaven" that can be heard by viewing the video below.
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