Shirley Coley, 87, of Glastonbury passed away peacefully on Friday, March 13th, 2009 in the Hospice Care unit of Hartford Hospital. Born in Hartford July 26, 1921, daughter of the late Frank L. Buckley and Margaret Elliott Buckley, Shirley spent the better part of her life in Glastonbury. Not long after graduating in the GHS class of 1939 Shirley headed out west with her cousin Evelyn Elliott and worked for her Uncle George and Aunt Virginia Buckley at the Old Faithful Inn in Yellowstone Park and the Desert Inn in Palm Springs, CA. Shirley returned to Glastonbury in 1957 where she would work for Pratt & Whitney and raise her boys Mark and Rex. Shirley was a huge sports fan in general and of the Red Sox in particular, especially during the golden years of baseball and Ted Williams. She was also a natural athlete in her own right, played baseball, golf and bowled with her sons, and at the age of 70 went on to tear her rotator cuff while pitching to her grandson, Christian. As a teenager she graced the fairways of the old Academy golf course with her beautiful swing and would later play with her sons at Minnechaug golf course - and beat them! She was a devout catholic and parishioner of St. Paul's Church in Glastonbury, and since the construction of the new church on Main Street in 1960 she was a dedicated member of the church choir, rarely missing a rehearsal or mass, even during the last few years when the climb to the choir loft began to rob her of her breath. Her retirement from Pratt & Whitney in 1986 coincided perfectly with the arrival of her grandchildren, Elliott and Christian for whom she cared and adored. During her retirement she also spent many summer months at the Cape with cousins May, Ray and Evie, and made trips to Ireland, Israel, Oberammergau, Germany and Italy with St.Paul's Church. Shirley left this life content to have witnessed the fruit of her love and support- namely that of a healthy, happy and secure family. There are no words to express our gratitude as well as the grief we bear with her loss. She is survived by her two sons, Rex and his wife Rebecca of Lebanon, CT; Mark and his wife Marga of Glastonbury, CT; grandsons, Elliott of New York City and Christian of Glastonbury; and many cousins, nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her brothers George and Robert Buckley and her sister Dorothy. A mass of Christian burial will be held on Saturday, March 21, 2009 at 10:00 a. m. at St. Paul's Church 2577 Main Street, Glastonbury. Calling hours will be held Friday March 20, 2009 from 6:00 to 8:00 p. m. at the Farley-Sullivan Funeral Home, 50 Naubuc Ave. Glastonbury. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to St. Paul's Church 2577 Main Street, Glastonbury, CT. 06033. For online expressions of sympathy or information, please visit farley-sullivan.com.
|
