Loved cooking, playing cards
MELROSE — Shirley Morelli passed away on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025.
Shirley was born and raised in Malden. She was the daughter of Oreste and Teresa (Marucci) Gonzales and the youngest of 12 children.
She was the beloved wife of Michael Morelli for over 65 years. She was a dedicated homemaker who made her home beautiful, warm and inviting. She expertly managed the finances of her husband’s commercial roofing business, was a medical assistant in her brother in-law’s busy practice for many years and sold real estate after she retired.
Shirley loved to cook for her family, play cards with her friends at the club and winter in Florida with her husband. She loved to laugh, watch cooking shows, game shows and thoughtful and intelligent TV and movies.
She was the devoted mother of Michael Morelli Jr. and his wife Gina of Buffalo, New York; David Morelli of Marblehead; and Nancy and Jeff DiTullio of Lynnfield. She was the beloved grandmother to Gretchen and Hanna Morelli of Buffalo, New York; Dayle Roper (DiTullio) and her husband Alex of Gloucester; and Rachel DiTullio of Lynnfield. She was the great-grandmother to Jack Roper of Gloucester. She is also survived by her sister Emily King and many cousins, nephews, nieces and friends. Shirley made friends easily and will leave an abundance of new and old dear friends.
Visiting hours will be held at the Gately Funeral Home, 79 W. Foster St., Melrose, on Friday, Nov. 7, 2025 from 4 to 7 p.m. Procession from the Gately Funeral Home on Saturday, Nov. 8, 2025 at 9 a.m., followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at St. Mary of the Annunciation Church, 4 Herbert St., Melrose, at 10 a.m. Relatives and friends respectfully invited to attend. Interment will follow at Wyoming Cemetery in Melrose. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Disabled American Veterans, P.O. Box 14301, Cincinnati, OH 45250-0301. To sign an online condolence, visit gatelyfh.com.