Shirley Marie (Lyons) Hodder died peacefully at home in East Boothbay on June 19, 2020.

She was born Dec. 24, 1931 in Spencer, Massachusetts. Her parents were Frederick Lyons and Leah (Benoit) Lyons of Wheelwright, Massachusetts. Shirley was happily married to her husband, K. Alan Hodder (1933-2018) for 59 loving, laugh-filled years.

Shirley graduated from Hardwick High School in 1949, and then from Salters Secretarial School in Worcester, Massachusetts with exceptional skills, which led to a long career as an executive secretary in various technology companies in the Boston area.

In early 1959, she met and married fellow Raytheon employee Alan “Al” Hodder. They settled in Burlington, Massachusetts where they went on to raise three children in a loving and supportive environment. The Hodder household was special for many people. Shirley and Al become “second parents” to many of their children’s friends and became known for the annual Christmas Eve/Birthday Open House Celebration to which anyone and everyone was invited. Shirley also became active in local community theater, becoming a lifetime member of The Burlington Players.

Shirley and her family spent some of their happiest times on the sands of Hampton and Seabrook, New Hampshire beaches. In 2005, they decided to retire to Portland, Maine. They became fixtures in the city’s restaurant scene and were “adopted” by countless staff members who officially labeled them Portland’s “Cool Couple.”

After the death of her husband in October 2018, Shirley relocated to East Boothbay, Maine to live with her daughter and son-in-law for what would be her final months.

She is survived by her daughters, Susan Hodder and her husband Michael Feldmann and Mary Jane Hodder and her husband Toni Wojtkow; her son, Kendell Hodder and his husband Jeffrey Perfect; her granddaughter, Leah Hodder-Romano; and her younger sisters, Pat Bitonio and Louise Clement.

Hall’s of Boothbay has care of arrangements. To extend online condolences, please visit hallfuneralhomes.com