Shirley Ruth Christinat

NORTH CANAAN­ — Shirley Ruth Christinat, 80, of North Canaan, passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by her loving family, on March 27, 2025.

Born on July 21, 1944, in Winsted, Shirley was the daughter of the late George and Hazel (Barnes) Tisserand.

A devoted caregiver, Shirley began her career working as a CNA at Noble Horizons and Geer, and later provided private duty care to local families. She went on to serve over 30 years as a visiting nurse with the Salisbury Visiting Nurse Association (SVNA).

Shirley found joy in the little things — relaxing in the sun, reading a good book with her cats curled up on her lap, sipping iced coffee, and handing out treats to the neighborhood dogs from her front porch. She loved decorating her home for every holiday, a tradition her family will always fondly remember.

She cherished adventures with her grandchildren, including trips to the beach and afternoons at amusement parks. Her yearly getaways to Florida were a personal highlight, enjoying Disney with family or simply soaking up the sun.

One of her most special memories in recent years was a trip to her happy place — Misquamicut Beach — with her son Wayne. Despite not feeling her best, she was determined to go and the two shared a day they would never forget.

She is survived by her son, Wayne Christinat; her granddaughter, Tara Tazzara and her husband, Jeff Tazzara, and their sons, Colton and Cason Tazzara; her granddaughter, Courtney Parker and her husband Shane Parker; her sister, Theresa Kelley; and several nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by her husband, George Christinat; her son, Christopher Christinat; her brother, George Tisserand; and her sisters, Ethel Warner, Jody Bush, and Margaret (Peggy) Murphy.

Though she may be gone from our sight, Shirley’s love and light remain — in every sunny day, every page turned, and every memory shared.