Shirley Elizabeth (Wilson) Rines

Wolfeboro, NH 

Shirley Elizabeth (Wilson) Rines, age 89, passed away peacefully after a period of declining health on Saturday morning December 3, 2022 joining her late husband and best friend Mark Freeland Rines just over 6 months since his death. A New Hampshire native she was born August 14, 1933 in Dover, NH to Thomas D. Wilson and Sadie (Turner) Wilson.  She attended Dover public schools and graduated from Dover High School in 1951.

Upon graduation from high school she married her best friend Mark Rines.  They were inseparable for over 70 years living raising the family in New Hampshire except for Mark’s time in the service in Virginia where they started their family that was her pride and joy and full time job.  Raising and nurturing 3 children born within two and half years she managed the family, made clothes for the kids, canned and froze vegetables from the garden while teaching eternal values.

Once the children were teenagers she began a career continuing her love of children as a babysitter, cooking and serving in the Kingswood Regional High School cafeteria and as a kindergarten teacher’s aide at Carpenter School in Wolfeboro. As a teacher’s aide her patience and kindness helped make childrens’ first learning experience enjoyable. That love of children continued in her final months as caregiver Nichole Perrault brought her young daughter Julia to brighten her days.

She is survived by a son David T. Rines and his wife Catherine of The Villages, FL, son Alan J. Rines of Largo, FL, daughter Pamela E. Rines of Largo,FL and  Tonia (Duchano) Hutt, her husband George and daughter Caterina of Stratham, NH, her grandchildren Matthew F. Rines and his wife Diana and Jennifer (Rines) Johnson and her husband Chip of Ossipee, NH and a great grandson Cody Decosta of Wolfeboro. His sister Dorothy (Rines) Hill and her husband Mert of East Woodstock, CT and brother Bruce Rines of Ossipee and numerous nieces and nephews also survive. 

Special thanks go to Bonnie Pennell and her team of caregivers for providing support, joy and comfort in her final months.

There will be no calling hours. Services will be held at a later date at the New Hampshire Veterans Cemetery, Boscawen where she and Mark will be laid to rest.  In lieu of flowers donations in her memory may be made to the NH Veterans Cemetery or the NH Humane Society.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Shirley Elizabeth (Wilson) Rines, please visit our floral store.