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Shirley Russell
Biography
BiographyShirley Mae Armstrong was born in Ngāruawāhia in 1933. She went to school in Stratford, then worked in her parents' bakery before moving to Wellington.
She met her husband, Lawrence Russell, a carpenter, while working at the Taita Hotel. After they married, they moved to Upper Hutt in the mid-1950s, and raised four children.
Shirley worked at Maidstone Furnishing; then the Russells bought a Four Square grocery in Heretaunga, on Fergusson Drive.
She taught violin for many years; a cup at St Patrick's College is named in her honour.
Involvement in voluntary social work led to her being elected to city council in 1983; she served for 18 years, and contested the mayoralty several times.
She was a JP and marriage celebrant from the mid-1980s, and officiated at her last wedding in 2004.
She began selling real estate during her time in Council; she retired from Gillies & Mark in 2003, but continued to help with open homes.
She was involved in Red Cross emergency housing for many years.
The March 1, 1993 'Leader' reported that she had retired as convener for the Red Cross emergency houses after 13 years.
She was a foundation president of the Champagne Club and a member of the Hutt Valley Soroptimists.
Almost everything in this node comes from a 19 October 2005 'Leader' obituary. Dates of addresses come from electoral rolls, as do the couple's full names.
She met her husband, Lawrence Russell, a carpenter, while working at the Taita Hotel. After they married, they moved to Upper Hutt in the mid-1950s, and raised four children.
Shirley worked at Maidstone Furnishing; then the Russells bought a Four Square grocery in Heretaunga, on Fergusson Drive.
She taught violin for many years; a cup at St Patrick's College is named in her honour.
Involvement in voluntary social work led to her being elected to city council in 1983; she served for 18 years, and contested the mayoralty several times.
She was a JP and marriage celebrant from the mid-1980s, and officiated at her last wedding in 2004.
She began selling real estate during her time in Council; she retired from Gillies & Mark in 2003, but continued to help with open homes.
She was involved in Red Cross emergency housing for many years.
The March 1, 1993 'Leader' reported that she had retired as convener for the Red Cross emergency houses after 13 years.
She was a foundation president of the Champagne Club and a member of the Hutt Valley Soroptimists.
Almost everything in this node comes from a 19 October 2005 'Leader' obituary. Dates of addresses come from electoral rolls, as do the couple's full names.
Photos
Details
Date of Birth1933Place of BirthNgaruawahiaDate of Death27th September 2005Place of DeathTe Omanga HospicePlace of ResidenceArarino Street, 1960Gillespies Road, 1966SexFemale
Place of BirthNgaruawahiaDate of Death27th September 2005Place of DeathTe Omanga HospicePlace of ResidenceArarino Street, 1960Gillespies Road, 1966SexFemaleMarriage
HusbandLawrence John Russell
Family
FatherDavid ArmstrongMotherRuby ArmstrongChildMIchael RussellLorin FrancisLisa RussellMandy Russell
MotherRuby ArmstrongChildMIchael RussellLorin FrancisLisa RussellMandy RussellConnections
OrganisationUpper Hutt City Council
Shirley Russell. Upper Hutt Libraries, accessed 22/05/2026, https://uhcl.recollect.co.nz/nodes/view/25591