Shirley T Hugot

Shirley Thrall Hugot passed away peacefully on April 23, 2025 at age 95. Shirley was born in Hartford, Connecticut on February 22, 1930 to Oliver and Mamie Thrall. With her brother Joseph Thrall and her sister Hazel Thrall Sullivan, she grew up in Windsor Connecticut on the family-owned farm, established by her ancestor William Thrall in 1646.

She was predeceased by her first husband, Francois Hugot, a professor in the French department at Brown University, and her second husband, Roger Sollier, a cousin of Francois, whom she had known since 1955.

Shirley graduated from Mount Holyoke College with a Bachelor’s degree in French in 1952. She furthered her interest in language and linguistics at Georgetown University and received a Fulbright Scholarship for the year 1954-1955. That Fall, she studied political science at Strasbourg University and while there, was introduced by a mutual friend to her future husband, Francois, at a student restaurant.

The following year, she taught English at the Lycee of Strasbourg, worked at the Carnegie Center at the United Nations in Geneva, and briefly taught English at the Supreme Headquarters Allied Forces Europe (SHAFE), outside Paris. In 1958 they married in Nevers, France. When her husband was hired as a professor at Brown University in 1964, Shirley completed her teaching certificate and received a Master of Arts in teaching (MAT) from Rhode Island College. She was hired as French teacher at Barrington High School in 1965. For 35 years, she remained at Barrington High School, bringing her passion for the French language and culture to several generations of her students.  For the last 12 years of her tenure there, she was also Chair of the Foreign Language Department. During these 35 years she forged many lifelong friendships with her colleagues.

One of Shirley’s favorite pastimes was tending to her yard, including pruning her trees, caring for her flowers and mowing her lawn. If you happened to drop by, chances are you left with a few flowers from her garden. But above all, she treasured her family and friends.

Shirley is survived by her two children; Marceline and her husband Randy Braunberger and their daughter Emma, and Jean-Francois and his wife Brenda and their daughter Brooke.  She will be remembered for her subtle sense of humor, her desire to help you exceed your own expectations, and her natural predisposition to always be active and productive.

In lieu of flowers, donations to the Village Common of Rhode Island would be greatly appreciated. Barrington Village, our local village, is a remarkable organization that gave Shirley new friendships, helped maintain her connection to her community, and provided support and allowed her to live safely and independently in her own home. Shirley benefitted from the many dedicated and kind volunteers of this organization.

Calling Hours are from 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM on Wednesday May 7th at Smith-Mason Funeral Home, 398 Willett Avenue, Riverside, RI 02915.