Shirley A. Contini

Shirley A. Contini, 80, of Dover entered into heaven at Mercy Medical Center in Canton early Monday, January 28, 2019, after winning a courageous 17 year battle with cancer.

Shirley was born on January 3, 1939. She was the daughter of the late Ben and Rose (Gaffoli) Tristano. She graduated from St. Joseph High School with the class of 1958. Shirley was a homemaker but had also worked for Puritan Laundry and the Times Reporter. On April 23, 1966, she married James F. Contini.

She was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Dover, Christian Mother’s, and the Tuscarawas County Senior Center. She enjoyed cooking, shopping, puzzles, and was an avid sports fan. Above all, she loved spending time with her family; especially her grandchildren.

In addition to her husband of 52 years, James, she will be sadly missed by her son and daughter-in-law; Jim and Abby Contini of Dover; grandchildren Cory and Chloe Contini both of Dover; her brother, Jim Tristano of New Philadelphia; sister-in-law, Mary Lee Maloney of Massillon; along with several nieces and nephews, many of whom considered her a second “mother.”

Shirley was preceded in death by her brothers and sisters; Christine Smith, Frank Tristano, Josephine Fuhrer, Ernest Tristano, Mary Fabiano, Margaret Torch, Ben Tristano Jr., John Tristano, Dave Tristano, Richard Tristano, Betty Sanford, and LouisTristano; her brothers and sisters-in-law, Joseph Contini, Joan Manzella, Lucille Snyder, Delores Hayes, Laura Renner, Ida King, and Louis Contini.

Friends are invited to call at the Toland-Herzig Funeral Home & Crematory in Dover on Thursday, January 31, 2019, from 5-7pm. A Christian Wake service will be held at 7 pm. Friends are also invited to call at the funeral home Friday from 10-10:30 am. A Mass of Christian Burial will take place at St. Joseph Catholic Church on Friday, February 1, 2019, at 11:00 am with Father Jimmy Hatfield officiating. Burial will follow at St. Joseph Calvary Cemetery in Dover. A meal will be served at the Toland-Herzig Monarch Center following the service of committal. The family would like to thank all of the medical professionals who have touched Shirley’s life in a special way over the years; especially Dr. James Schmotzer and his staff at Aultman Cancer Center and those individuals at Mercy Medical Center. To sign an online guestbook for Shirley, visit the obituary link on the funeral home’s website.

Memorial contributions can be made to St. Joseph Catholic Church, 613 N. Tuscarawas Ave, Dover, Ohio 44622, or the Tuscarawas County Senior Center, 425 Prospect St, Dover, Ohio 44622.