Homes, Shirley Williams September 5, 1927 - October 31, 2018

On October 31, 2018, Shirley Williams Homes, 91, of Bronxville, NY passed away peacefully at her home. As was her wish, Shirley was visited by family and friends in her final days, sharing stories and receiving love from so many who touched her long and wonderful life. Born in Niles, Michigan on September 5, 1927, Shirley was the daughter of James Williams and Elberta Blake and sister to Stoddard Williams. After living in several parts of the country, upon the untimely death of her father, the family moved in with relatives in Glastonbury, CT. It was in Glastonbury where so many of her childhood memories were created. During the summer of 1948, while attending summer classes at Emerson College in Boston, country-girl Shirley met her future husband, city-boy Herb Homes of New York City. Shirley and Herb were married on June 24, 1949 and spent 64 years as husband and wife. Along the way Shirley and Herb had two children, Patricia and Peter and raised them in Mount Vernon. Shirley spent a good part of her life as a teacher. Shirley taught children with special needs at Pennington Elementary School in Mount Vernon in the 1960’s. Later she created an educational program for 2 and 3-year olds at the Fleetwood Montessori School. Shirley was a voracious reader, loyal Jeopardy watcher and lover of all things Nantucket. She was the neighborhood confidant to young girls in need of someone to listen to them. A progressive thinker, Shirley was a staunch supporter of the Civil Rights Movement, Women’s rights and LGBTQ rights. Having survived the death of her beloved husband Herb in 2013 and after 8 years of dialysis treatments, Shirley made the brave decision to end treatments and pass on in the manner she desired, painlessly and peacefully. We remember the afternoons at the Metropolitan Museum with Herb, Face-timing with her great-grandchildren, Bronxville Christmases, Nantucket summers and, of course, Judge Judy. Play your Frank Sinatra, Barbra Streisand or Tchaikovsky. Play the Beatles or play Pink and remember Shirley. She was one-of-a-kind. A celebration of the life of Shirley Williams Homes will be held at Underhills Crossing, 74 ½ Pondfield Road, Bronxville, NY, from 2 to 5 pm on Saturday, November 17, 2018. Drop in and tell us your Shirley story.