Shirley M. Matressa Nolan, 81, of North Haven, passed away peacefully on July 14, 2024, at Yale New Haven Hospital/St. Raphael’s campus. She was the beloved wife of 63 years to Retired Hamden Police Chief Robert F. Nolan. Shirley was born in New Haven on Oct. 21, 1942, and was the daughter of the late Salvatore and Philomena (Candido) Matressa.

A graduate of Wilbur Cross High School, Shirley was the owner and operator of the former Perkins Pancake House, Branford, the former Nolan’s Town Line Market, Northford, and later, the former Municipal Uniform and Supply Company of North Haven. Shirley enjoyed bowling and was an excellent Scrabble player.

She was the mother of Robyn Nolan (Kevin Spada) and the late Dawn Nolan Wordie; grandmother of Robert M. Pesapane (Jennica), Eliscia Pesapane, and Haley Wordie; great-grandmother of Gage, Michael (MJ), and Robert Axel; and sister of Dorothy Rubino. She is also survived by nieces and nephews.

The visiting hours were on July 22 at The Havens Family North Haven Funeral Home, 36 Washington Avenue. A Mass of Christian burial was celebrated on July 23 in St. Elizabeth of the Trinity Church at St. Therese Church, 555 Middletown Avenue, North Haven. Interment followed in All Saints Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) www.secure.aspca.org. www.northhavenfuneral.com..