Shirley A. Giguere

Shirley A. (Rifenburgh) Giguere passed away peacefully on Saturday, October 25, 2025, at the age of 95. The accompanying photo is of Shirley being "Queen for a Day" on her 95th birthday.

Shirley was the firstborn child of the late Edward L. and Bernice K. (Feller) Rifenburgh of Germantown, NY. She was a graduate of Germantown High School, Salutatorian of the class of 1947. She left the family farm and moved to Albany to attend Mildred Elley School in the stenographer and typist program. In 1948 Shirley became employed at NY Power & Light (Niagara Mohawk/National Grid) in the Tax and Real Estate department where she worked for seven years.

Shirley fell in love and married the late Alfred J. Giguere of Albany, New York, in July of 1954. Together they bought a house in Voorheesville, made it their home for 34 years and raised four children. In 1973 they bought a seasonal camp with property on the Sacandaga Reservoir in the town of Day which the family enjoys to this day. After all their children became school age, Shirley became employed as Office Secretary at the Voorheesville Elementary School for seven years. She loved that job because she loved people and loved helping the children. In 1988, after Alfred retired from being Director of Operations at the Albany Times Union, they bought a farm down the road with beautiful views of the Helderberg Mountains. Shirley and Alfred enjoyed 58 years of marriage until Alfred's passing in 2012.

Shirley was passionate about her family and her home. She gave of herself to help care for elderly family members and her neighbors in need. She loved flower gardening, watching the birds out her window, homemaking, handicrafts, cooking, scrapbooking and journaling, and collecting knick-knacks, antiques and various treasures. She loved the Yankee baseball team and reading her daily newspaper and her favorite authors. She loved to sit and chat to keep up with family news and local news.

Predeceased by her loving husband, Alfred J. Giguere, her sister, Marilyn (Rifenburgh) Rockefeller, her brother Donald Rifenburgh and her youngest sister, Kathryn (Rifenburgh) Griffin, her brothers-in-law John Griffin and Delbert Rockefeller and Robert Giguere.

Shirley is survived by her daughters Barbara Giguere Pozniakas of Rexford and Susan Giguere Gallo (Michael), and sons Alan Giguere of Voorheesville, and Greg Giguere (Diane) of Delmar. Also survived by her grandchildren Marc Pozniakas of North Carolina, Krista Pozniakas of Rexford, Paul Gallo (Sarah) of Albany and Jeffrey Gallo (Karen) of Colonie. Also survived by her sister-in-law Lynn Rifenburgh of Germantown and several nieces, nephews and cousins.

All celebrations of her life were held privately. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Shirley's favorite non-profit charity, Boystown, to help needy children www.boystown.org/give