Obituary of Charles and Shirley McGrath

NORWOOD—Funeral services for both 87 year old Charles and 83 year old Shirley McGrath will be held Saturday at 10 am at St. Andrew’s Church in Norwood with Rev. Andrew Amyot presiding. Burial will be held in Calvary Cemetery, Norwood. A luncheon will be held Saturday after the funeral at the Norwood American Legion. Family and friends may call at the Buck Funeral Home in Norfolk on Friday from 3-7 pm. Shirley passed away on Friday, October 7, 2011 at the Iroquois Nursing Home in Syracuse and Charles passed away on Sunday, October 9, 2011 at the VA Hospital in Syracuse. Charles and Shirley were married on August 13, 1949, celebrating 62 years of marriage this year. Charles and Shirley are survived by four daughters, Diane (Gerald) Reichert, North Syracuse; Kathleen Pilon, Oswego; Barbara (Russell) Radimaker, Michigan and Laurie (Harry) Adner, Norwood; fourteen grandchildren and twelve great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. Charles is also survived by his sister, Mary (Francis) Bonczar, Massena and was pre-deceased by his six brothers, William, George, Patrick, John, Richard and Robert McGrath and his two sisters, Lillian Finnegan and Harriet McGrath. Shirley is also survived by her sister, Ruth Stidwell, Ottawa, Canada. She was pre-deceased by her brothers Gerald, Reginald and Cletus Kirkey and her sisters Gwelda Collins, Bernice Dupuis and Lorna Kirkey. Charles was born in Massena on February 5, 1924 to the late Patrick and Lillian Stiles McGrath. He served in the U.S. Army during WWII and later worked as an electrician for ALCOA in Massena for 41 ½ years, retiring in 1985. He was a communicant of St. Andrew’s Church and was a member of the Norwood American Legion and the Massena VFW. He enjoyed crossword puzzles and was very active in the Norwood American Legion. Shirley was born in Cornwall, Ontario, Canada, on July 14, 1928 to the late Herman and Maude Derouchie Kirkey. She was a homemaker and communicant of St. Andrew’s Church where she was a member of the Catholic Daughters and the Altar and Rosary Society. Shirley enjoyed baking, knitting and was an avid reader. Memorial Donations in their memory can be made to St. Andrew’s Church, Norwood or to the VA Hospital in Syracuse, 800 Erving Ave, Syracuse, NY c/o Volunteer Services. Memories and condolences may be shared at www.buckfuneralhome.com. The Buck Funeral Home is serving the family of Charles and Shirley McGrath.