Shirley A. Drew

Morris – We are sad to announce the passing of Shirley Ann (Fretts) Drew, 88, longtime resident of Thomaston, CT. She passed away on April 18, 2023 at Litchfield Woods surrounded by family. Born on March 20, 1935 in Waterbury, CT she was one of seven children born to the late Mabel and Ary Fretts. She was the widow of Edwin Eugene Drew Senior. She leaves behind her daughter Virginia and husband Anthony Lauretano, who she made her home with this past year. She also leaves her step daughter Karen and husband Joe Palmer. Shirley was predeceased by her son Edwin Eugene Drew Junior, sisters Barbara Smith and Mabel Yurashus, and brothers Harry and Larry Fretts. She is survived by her sister Gloria Rinaldi and her brother John Fretts and wife Cindy. She had many grandchildren and great grandchildren who she enjoyed spoiling.

A loyal Torrington Company employee for 32 years, she was a member of the VFW Watertown Ladies Auxiliary. With her late husband and son she also worked for their family business Drew Drilling and Blasting.

Time spent with family and friends made “Shirl” happiest. She enjoyed going to Florida with “Big Ed” and then with her best friend Josephine. She and Ed loved vacationing at Old Orchard Beach in Maine and staying at the Sandpiper Motel. Their friends would also stay there and they were known for their good times.

She vacationed for many years with her daughter Ginny and her granddaughters. Later on this included her great grandchildren. Time spent closer to home centered around her swimming pool where all were welcome and she could always be counted on to feed one and all. She loved sharing her pool with friends and for birthday parties. 

Reading was a great joy to Shirley and she would often stay up all night to finish a book. She had a green thumb (thanks to Miracle Gro) when it came to her flowers and she always grew enough vegetables to feed the neighborhood. Shirley was a regular at Patti’s Place and enjoyed breakfast there with her sisters and friends. Spending time with and playing cards with her sister Gloria was a favorite pastime of hers in her later years. Her aide Sheila was a great comfort to Shirley in her last months and treated her like family. Shirley was known for her strength, outspoken nature, her generosity and willingness to always be there for her family.

Friends and family are invited to a graveside service at the East Morris Cemetery on Saturday, April 22, at 11:00 A.M. where she will be laid to rest alongside her late husband Ed and her son Eddie. To send notes of sympathy and comfort to Shirley’s family please visit her tribute page at www.lyonsfuneralhome.com

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Litchfield Ambulance, 11 East