Shirley Manganelli, 1944–2026, former Waltham school bus driver

Shirley Ann Manganelli (Butt), of Waltham, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, April 14, 2026. She was 82.

Born on Jan. 29, 1944, in Waltham, she was the daughter of William and Barbara Butt of Watertown. In 1964, she married Paul J. Manganelli of Cambridge, MA, and the couple settled in Waltham, where their family grew to eight with the addition of four sons and a niece and nephew.

Shirley was a dedicated school bus driver in Waltham for thirteen years and operated a thriving balloon bouquet business called Balloons by SAM. She had an extraordinary zeal for life, she loved cooking abundant meals for family and friends, entertaining by the pool, and taking her beloved bi-annual vacations to Aruba.

Shirley is survived by her loving husband Paul; her four adoring sons, Mark W. Manganelli and his partner Lori Ribeiro of Medford, Carl F. Manganelli and his wife Karen of Waltham, James S. Manganelli and his wife Sara of Uxbridge and Dennis Butt and his wife Tracie of Millis; her sister Cheryl Dawson (Butt) of Burlington; and her 11 awesome grandchildren. She was predeceased by her son Paul C. Manganelli of Waltham, her daughter Barbara Holzman (Butt) of Uxbridge, her brothers William Butt of Billerica and Dennis Butt of Waltham, and her sister Linda Miele (Butt) of Burlington. Shirley’s life was richly blessed by a large and devoted circle of family and friends, including in-laws and countless nieces and nephews.

Friends and family will gather to celebrate Shirley’s life on Sunday, April 26 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Mary Catherine Chapel at the Brasco Family Funeral Home, 773 Moody Street, Waltham. A celebration of life will be held on Monday, April 27 at 11 a.m. at the Mary Catherine Chapel.