Berlin Obituary: Shirley Smigel, 85

Shirley (Post) Smigel, 85, passed away Wednesday, December 7, 2016 surrounded by her loving family after a courageous fight with a long illness.

She was the daughter of the late Edwin & Mariette (Booth) Post and grew up in East Haven. In 1954, she graduated from UConn with a BS in Nursing where she met her husband, the late Stanley J. Smigel. After graduation they were married and resided in New Britain for many years. Before retiring, she worked for 17 years as a registered nurse at Ledgecrest Convalescent Hospital in Kensington.

Shirley was a role model for many, loved for being smart, beautiful, kind, fun and compassionate. With a thirst for knowledge, Shirley was passionate about her hobbies. She was an expert birdwatcher, traveling all over the world enjoying nature and birding. She was an avid UConn women's basketball and Yankees fan. She loved animals, playing the piano, gardening, walking in the woods and talking with friends. She cherished her family and her many close and loyal friends.

Besides her parents and husband, she was predeceased by her son Steven J. Smigel. A loving and devoted mother and grandmother, she leaves behind her children, John Smigel and his wife Lisa of East Lyme, Wendy Gasparini and her husband John of Newington, Sally Gagne and her husband Robert of MN, her siblings, Betty Wotton and her husband Robert of AZ & NY, Edwin E. Post and his wife Mary of AZ & CA, and Brenda Frandsen and her husband Phil of AZ, four grandchildren, Jaclyn & Robert Cane and Nathan & Joseph Gagne, and many nieces and nephews.

The family would like to thank the wonderful staff and all of Shirley's resident friends at Cedar Mountain Commons for their outstanding care and loving and supportive friendship for the past six years.

A funeral service will be celebrated Saturday, January 14, 2017 at 11:00 AM at Duksa Family Funeral Homes at Newington Memorial, 20 Bonair Ave, Newington. Calling hours will be held before the service between 9:00-11:00 am. Burial will be private at Sacred Heart Cemetery in New Britain.

Contributions in her memory may be directed to the CT Humane Society, 701 Russell Rd, Newington, CT 06111, Hartford Audubon Society, PO Box 270207, West Hartford, CT 06127, or the MDA, ALS Division, 127 Washington Ave, 4th Fl. West, North Haven, CT 06473.