Shirley Anne (Reynolds) Bromley

HEBRON - Shirley Anne (Reynolds) Bromley passed away Sunday, December 2, 2018 at Douglas Manor in Windham, where she had resided since July 2015.  She was born to the late Lewis and Lena (Juskoviak) Reynolds on August 12, 1921 in Charlton, MA.  Shirley graduated from Charlton High School in 1938.  While in high school, she was one of two girls on the boy’s track team—her specialties were high jump and baseball throw--and during her senior year, she was captain and high scorer on the girls’ basketball team.  She also played on the girls’ softball team.  She was a class officer, a member of the National Honor Society, assistant business manager of the school newspaper, and was cast in two plays performed by the Drama Club. She was a commencement speaker, her topic was “The Men Who Framed the Constitution”.  This speech led her to receive a signed copy of the autobiography of President Harding accompanied by a letter from its author Joe Mitchell Chapple.   Shirley began her employment at the American Optical Company in Southbridge, MA.  At the AO where she played on the company’s women’s basketball team and was high scorer for the team.  She married William Bromley on March 20, 1945 in Thompson.  Shortly after marrying Mr. Bromley, they moved to Hebron where he had obtained a position as farm manager.  Shirley had a tremendous work ethic and worked alongside her husband and sons. They raised five children, who also worked on the farm.  The family remained in town for many years.  Shirley retired from the Mansfield Training School then worked at S&S Worldwide in Colchester.  She had also worked at the American Thread Company and Electro-Motive Manufacturing Company.

Mr. Bromley predeceased her in 2004 after almost 59 years of marriage.  Upon William’s passing, Shirley moved to Manchester and then briefly to Conway, SC to live with her eldest son.  She returned to Connecticut four years ago.  She leaves to mourn her passing her children, David (Toni) of Conway, SC; Ronald (Norma) of West Burke, VT; Linda Waitkus of Hebron; and daughter-in-law, Linda Bromley of Colchester.  She also leaves her grandchildren, William and Tyler, both of Colchester; Theodore (Erika) of Hebron, Jessica (Kurt) Surdam of Andover, Stephanie Chavez (DJ) of California, Nina (Justin) Likes of South Carolina; Meaghan (Rudy) Dellafiore of Florida and Brendan and Garrett Waitkus, both of Hebron; great grandchildren, Ava and Ethan Byers of Andover, Nicholas Bromley of Hebron, Robert and Madison Dellafiore of Florida and Liam Chavez of California.  Shirley was predeceased by two sons, William (1963) and Kenneth (1994); sisters, Helen and Gertrude and brothers, Emerson and Warren.  Her surviving siblings are Barbara Zajac, Marion Reynolds and Myron Reynolds, all of Charlton. She also leaves brother-in-law, Lawrence Gleason of Danielson and sisters-in-law Barbara Reynolds of West Brookfield, MA, and Barbara Adamuska of Quinebaug; and many nieces, nephews and their families.  Shirley loved all animals and for many years her husband possessed teams of fine draft horses and quarter horses.  Her interests were knitting, crocheting, word and crossword puzzles and listening to country western music.  She was an avid Red Sox and Patriots fan and loved watching college and NBA basketball games.  We love you, Mom, and we will miss you every day.  We are grateful for having had you as our mother.  You taught us to be independent, hard-working, to do things the right way and to the best of our ability. We know that you are watching us from above, at peace, and reconnecting with your husband, sons, brothers and sisters who have gone before you!   The family wishes to thank the staff at Douglas Manor for their genuine caring and compassionate care for Shirley during her stay there, especially Vanessa, Yvette, Brenda, Lynn and Claire.  For those whom wish, you may send flowers, or consider making a donation to Horizons, Inc. P.O. Box 323, South Windham, CT 06266-0323 and specify Campaign for Campers.

Funeral services will be held at the Aurora-McCarthy Funeral Home, 167 Old Hartford Rd., Colchester, CT on Friday (Dec. 14th) with visitation starting at 11 AM followed by a Chapel Service at 12 noon.  Burial will follow in Gilead Cemetery, Hebron.  www.auroramccarthyfuneralhome.com

To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.