Shirley A. Giguere, who was passionate about her family and her home, died peacefully on Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025, at the age of 95.

“The accompanying photo is of Shirley being ‘Queen for a Day’ on her 95th birthday,” her family wrote in a tribute.

“Shirley was the firstborn child of the late Edward L. and Bernice K. (née Feller) Rifenburgh of Germantown, New York,” her family wrote. “She was a graduate of Germantown High School, salutatorian of the class of 1947. She left the family farm and moved to Albany to attend Mildred Elley School in the stenographer and typist program.

“In 1948, Shirley became employed at New York Power & Light (Niagara Mohawk/National Grid) in the tax and real estate department where she worked for seven years.

“Shirley fell in love and married the late Alfred J. Giguere of Albany in July of 1954. Together they bought a house in Voorheesville, made it their home for 34 years and raised four children. In 1973 they bought a seasonal camp with property on the Sacandaga Reservoir in the town of Day, which the family enjoys to this day.

“After all their children became school age, Shirley became employed as office secretary at the Voorheesville Elementary School for seven years. She loved that job because she loved people and loved helping the children.

“In 1988, after Alfred retired from being director of operations at the Albany Times Union, they bought a farm down the road with beautiful views of the Helderberg Mountains. Shirley and Alfred enjoyed 58 years of marriage until Alfred’s passing in 2012.

“Shirley was passionate about her family and her home. She gave of herself to help care for elderly family members and her neighbors in need.

“She loved flower gardening, watching the birds out her window, homemaking, handicrafts, cooking, scrapbooking and journaling, and collecting knick-knacks, antiques and various treasures.

“She loved the Yankee baseball team and reading her daily newspaper and her favorite authors. She loved to sit and chat to keep up with family news and local news.”

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Shirley A. Giguere is survived by her daughters, Barbara Giguere Pozniakas of Rexford and Susan Giguere Gallo (Michael), and by her sons, Alan Giguere of Voorheesville, and Greg Giguere (Diane) of Delmar.

She is also survived by her grandchildren, Marc Pozniakas of North Carolina, Krista Pozniakas of Rexford, Paul Gallo (Sarah) of Albany, and Jeffrey Gallo (Karen) of Colonie. She is survived, too, by her sister-in-law, Lynn Rifenburgh of Germantown, and by several nieces, nephews and cousins.

Her loving husband, Alfred J. Giguere, died before her, as did her sister, Marilyn (née Rifenburgh) Rockefeller; her brother, Donald Rifenburgh, and her youngest sister, Kathryn (née Rifenburgh) Griffin; and her brothers-in-law, John Griffin and Delbert Rockefeller and Robert Giguere.

All celebrations of her life were held privately.

Memorial contributions may be made to her favorite not-for-profit charity, Boystown, to help needy children (www.boystown.org/give).