James Leo Shruhan

James Leo Shruhan, age 88, passed away on Sunday, November 17, 2024, at the All American Assisted Living Center in Wrentham, Massachusetts. Born in Boston, Massachusetts on April 23, 1936, he was the son of the late James and Ethel Marguerite (Douglas) Shruhan. 

After the untimely loss of his mother at age 2, Jim lived with his aunt and uncle in Roslindale, Mae and Frank Ronan, who raised him like their own. He was raised alongside his cousins Jeannette and Frank as though they were siblings. Jim graduated as a lieutenant from Boston School of Commerce in 1954. 

Jim enjoyed roller-skating with his friends, which is how he met the love of his life, Norma M. Marier as a high school senior. The couple married three years later on September 7, 1957, in Saint Mary’s Church in Dedham. 

Jim and Norma made their married home in Roslindale and welcomed their four children before moving to Norfolk. Jim was very family oriented and enjoyed bringing the whole family to the Cape every year in the summer. Every year, the kids would help gather dandelions so he and Norma could make dandelion wine and jelly. He was an umpire for the girls’ softball and Norfolk Little League and coached the Pop Warner Football D Team. 

Jim received his Bachelor’s in Computer Software at Northeastern and traveled to many hospitals across the United States and Canada. He did computer programming for companies such as Ludlow, Children’s Hospital, MediTech, Mass Hospital Association, Shared Medical Systems, and Siemens. Jim was a member of the Town of Norfolk Board of Appeals and enjoyed volunteering during town elections. He was quite active at St. Jude’s Church, participating as an usher, teaching CCD, and serving as president of the Holy Name Society. In addition, Jim spent countless hours delivering Meals on Wheels to many members in his community.

Jim retired in 2002, which gave him more time to engage in his hobbies, such as watching the Patriots and Red Sox, taking road trips, bowling, and riding in the PanMass Challenge in honor of his late sister. He also collected Budweiser steins, and meticulously categorized and displayed all 1,134 of them. More than anything, Jim loved spending time with his family. When his children were young they packed up their gear and camped every weekend, spending time together as a family around the campfire. He was thrilled when he became a grandfather, looking forward to sharing his love with the newest generation. The grandkids might have won at Uno and Phase10, but he taught them cribbage just like he taught his children, and no one could beat him. Jim was very fond of family traditions. Easter consisted of Easter egg hunts, and a competitive amount of horseradish, while St. Patrick’s Day featured his corned beef and cabbage. Every Christmas Eve, he would pass out his grandkids’ presents while wearing a light up Santa hat. Once the lights were off, it meant all presents were passed out and everyone was free to open their gifts and toss the wrapping paper at each other. Those joyful traditions will live on as his legacy. 

Beloved husband of Norma M. Shruhan

Loving father of Cynthia Falcone and her husband Daniel of Wrentham, James Shruhan and his wife Carol of Parkman, Maine, Linda Moore and her husband Timothy of Freedom, New Hampshire, and Jacqueline St. Pierre and her husband Henry of North Attleborough 

Cherished grandfather of Daniel Falcone and his wife Stacy of Mendon, Robert Falcone and his wife Jennifer of Weymouth, Michael Shruhan and his wife Nicole of Trumbull, Connecticut, Andrew Shruhan and his wife Katie of Stoneham, Timothy Moore of North Smithfield, Rhode Island, Sean Moore and his wife Courtney of Foxboro, Kathleen Moore of Wrentham, Michelle St. Pierre and her companion Barrie of Coventry, Rhode Island, and Jessica Cisternelli and her husband Eric of Norfolk

Great-grandfather of Austin, Nicholas, Taralyn, Natalie, Abby, James, Sarah, Juliana, Sofia, Lucas, Brooke, MJ, and Caleb

Brother of the late Dorothy Harms, Ethel Shruhan, Frank Ronan, and Jeannette Ackerstrom

Relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend Jim’s Life Celebration on Friday, November 22, 2024, from 10:00 - 11:30 am at the James H. Delaney & Son Funeral Home, 48 Common St. Walpole. A Funeral Home Service will follow at 11:30 am. Interment will take place in the Norfolk Cemetery. 

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in James's name may be made to All American Assisted Living at 30 Ledgeview Way Wrentham, MA 02093 noting on the memo line “Rose Lane”.