Deanna Shirey returns to her Massachusetts home

Published 3:05 pm Tuesday, September 4, 2018

GLOUCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS — On a sunny, warm morning off the coast of Massachusetts, the remains of a Thomasville woman were placed in the blue water of the Atlantic Ocean.

True to Deanna Shirey’s wishes, her ashes and those of her husband, Lloyd Shirey, were placed in biodegradable containers and placed in the water by her children. In all, about 45 relatives were on hand for the placing of the ashes.

Three vessels — owned by Shirey’s relatives — departed at 10 a.m. A number of relatives boarded the boats. Others stood in a cove on the shore.

Shirey’s body was found Friday, July 13, in a shallow grave behind a house belonging to Robert Carter, who has been charged with killing the 70-year-old widow. She was found four days after her family reported her missing.

Shirey, who was born and raised in Gloucester, had told family members she wanted her ashes and those of her husband, who died in 2007, two years after the couple moved to Thomasville from South Florida, spread at sea.

“It was very important to do that,” said Nick Abiusi, who is married to Shirey’s daughter, Paula.

A number of relatives from Gloucester and the surrounding area joined Shirey’s immediate family from South Florida and North Georgia to grant Shirey’s wishes on Thursday, Aug. 30, her 71st birthday.

Among the relatives was Shirey’s niece, a Gloucester resident, who was the last family member to talk to Shirey before she disappeared.

“We were blessed with an outpouring of love and support from Gloucester,” Abiusi said.

Supermarkets and restaurants provided food for the family. Lodging was provided at the cost of cleaning. A Gloucester business gave the family a biodegradable wreath that was placed in the water with the ashes containers.

“We were able to watch the wreath float away,” Abiusi said.

The same boat was used when Shirey’s parents’ remains were placed in the sea.

Family members know the judicial process will be long.

“The waiting gets to be the hard part, but these forensic tests take a long time,” Abiusi said.

Said Rocco Abiusi, Shirey’s 17-year-old grandson, as the remains were placed in the sea: “We laid you to rest where it all began 71 years ago today.”

Senior reporter Patti Dozier can be reached at (229) 226-2400, ext. 1820