AUBURN – Shirley (Karlin) Goodman, 79, of Auburn and Pompano Beach, Fla., passed away peacefully on Saturday, March 14, at Hospice House in Auburn, having survived more than five years with lung cancer.

Her friends and doctors referred to her as a “wonder woman” for her strength to live a full and active life despite the disease and years of chemotherapy.

She was born on Jan. 1, 1930, in Portland, to immigrant parents, Rose and Aaron Karlin, and was raised on Munjoy Hill, graduating from Portland High School in 1948. On Aug. 26, 1951, Shirley married Joel Goodman and settled in Auburn where Joel’s family business, the Wilfred Goodman Co., (now Goodman Wiper and Paper, Inc.) was located. They raised three sons in Auburn, living in the same house since 1957, and spending winters in Pompano Beach, Fla., for the past 20 years.

Always an outgoing person, Shirley made and kept close friends throughout her life. She stayed closed to childhood girlfriends, her “Maine” and “Florida” friends as well as many others throughout her life. Extended family gatherings at her Auburn home were a regular occurrence where her chicken soup, brisket and jello molds were legendary. She was a natural hostess. Shirley was committed to her Jewish community. Over the years, she was active at the Jewish Community Center, Beth Abraham Synagogue and Temple Shalom in Auburn.

She was involved with Brandeis Women in Florida, and was vice president of the B’nai B’rith Women’s Council of Maine. In the 1980s, Shirley decided to go to college, an opportunity that she didn’t have in her youth. While taking classes at the University of Maine, she was a peer advisor and language tutor and continued as a volunteer tutor in Florida. Shirley was avid reader and a talented writer. Through short stories and poems, she chronicled countless family and community events. At weddings, anniversaries or other gatherings, people looked forward to Shirley reciting a piece that she had written especially for that occasion, delighting all with her unmistakable wit and warmth.

Shirley is survived by her husband of 57 years, as well as her three sons and their families; Wayne and Jo Ann Goodman of Falmouth, Ken and Charlene Goodman of Auburn, Steve Goodman and Vicki Wharton-Goodman of Minot; and grandchildren Margy, Joshua and Andrew.

The family would like to thank the staff at the Hospice House in Auburn for their selfless generosity and care as Shirley completed life’s journey.

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