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January 11, 2012
Services
A Memorial Service to celebrate Shirley’s life will be held on Saturday, January 28th at 2 pm at the Community Presbyterian Church, 145 Carletondale Road, Ringwood NJ 07456.
Shirley Brett (née Thompson) age 85, formerly of Ringwood, died peacefully on Wednesday, January 11 at the Christian Health Care Center in Wyckoff, NJ.
Shirley grew up in Dumont, NJ on Delaware Avenue, with her sister, Dorothy and her loving family. After a brief time working in New York, she had an exciting career with Atlantic Aviation at Teterboro Airport. It was there that she met her husband, Herman Brett, who was a pilot for the same company. They were married in 1946 and honeymooned in California and Catalina Island.
They began married life living at the Chester Garden Apartments in Englewood. After the birth of their second child, they built a home in Montvale where they resided for 5 happy years. Needing more space, they purchased a large, fieldstone colonial with acreage and a pond in Park Ridge.
Shirley and Herman had 3 more children from 1960-1965. Along with raising 5 children, Shirley found time to support her husband's positions as councilman and volunteer firefighter. She was active in both the Republican Club and the Women's Auxiliary, and was a scout leader.
In 1969, the family moved to Ringwood and enjoyed many happy hours at Cupsaw Lake. Shirley had lots of good memories about her life there and remained friends with many of the neighbors until her passing.
When Herm retired, the couple moved to Apollo Beach, Florida and also maintained a home in Ridgefield Park, NJ. For the next 15 years, they traveled extensively throughout the United States and Canada in their motor home. They were always happy to be on the road, exploring historic sites, national parks, and attending rodeos, air shows, and balloon festivals.
Later, they moved to an active adult community, Mainlands of Tamarac, in Pinellas Park, FL, where they lived life to the fullest and made many life-long friends. Shirley loved to drive her sporty convertible, top down, to the beaches and was known as “New Jersey Shirley”. After her husband's passing in 2006, she became active in the Women's club, Red Hat, Hospice of Florida, and several activities benefitting hospitalized children.
Shirley was a fun-loving, gregarious lady with a quick wit and a great smile. She loved her NY Yankees and Giants, and was an avid fan of her grandsons' teams, rooting them on at the ice hockey rink or on the field. A city girl at heart, she enjoyed going to NY for shows, shopping, and seeing the tree at Rockefeller Center at Christmas. She also liked to garden, go antiquing, and decorate her home inside and out.
Shirley was the beloved wife of Herman Brett; loving mother of Penelope Hughes of Little Egg Harbor, Gregory Brett and his wife Jane of Hawthorne, Jonathan Brett and his wife Allison of Hewitt, Melissa Heck and her husband David of Ringwood, and Matthew Brett of Hewitt; cherished grandmother of Christopher, Matthew and Andrew Heck and Brittany Hughes.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Community Presbyterian Church of Ringwood (communitypc.org) or to Hospice of New Jersey or Florida.
If you would like to send a private condolence directly to the family use this condolence section.
A Memorial Service to celebrate Shirley’s life will be held on Saturday, January 28th at 2 pm at the Community Presbyterian Church, 145 Carletondale Road, Ringwood NJ 07456.
January 11, 2012
Services
A Memorial Service to celebrate Shirley’s life will be held on Saturday, January 28th at 2 pm at the Community Presbyterian Church, 145 Carletondale Road, Ringwood NJ 07456.
Shirley Brett (née Thompson) age 85, formerly of Ringwood, died peacefully on Wednesday, January 11 at the Christian Health Care Center in Wyckoff, NJ.
Shirley grew up in Dumont, NJ on Delaware Avenue, with her sister, Dorothy and her loving family. After a brief time working in New York, she had an exciting career with Atlantic Aviation at Teterboro Airport. It was there that she met her husband, Herman Brett, who was a pilot for the same company. They were married in 1946 and honeymooned in California and Catalina Island.
They began married life living at the Chester Garden Apartments in Englewood. After the birth of their second child, they built a home in Montvale where they resided for 5 happy years. Needing more space, they purchased a large, fieldstone colonial with acreage and a pond in Park Ridge.
Shirley and Herman had 3 more children from 1960-1965. Along with raising 5 children, Shirley found time to support her husband's positions as councilman and volunteer firefighter. She was active in both the Republican Club and the Women's Auxiliary, and was a scout leader.
In 1969, the family moved to Ringwood and enjoyed many happy hours at Cupsaw Lake. Shirley had lots of good memories about her life there and remained friends with many of the neighbors until her passing.
When Herm retired, the couple moved to Apollo Beach, Florida and also maintained a home in Ridgefield Park, NJ. For the next 15 years, they traveled extensively throughout the United States and Canada in their motor home. They were always happy to be on the road, exploring historic sites, national parks, and attending rodeos, air shows, and balloon festivals.
Later, they moved to an active adult community, Mainlands of Tamarac, in Pinellas Park, FL, where they lived life to the fullest and made many life-long friends. Shirley loved to drive her sporty convertible, top down, to the beaches and was known as “New Jersey Shirley”. After her husband's passing in 2006, she became active in the Women's club, Red Hat, Hospice of Florida, and several activities benefitting hospitalized children.
Shirley was a fun-loving, gregarious lady with a quick wit and a great smile. She loved her NY Yankees and Giants, and was an avid fan of her grandsons' teams, rooting them on at the ice hockey rink or on the field. A city girl at heart, she enjoyed going to NY for shows, shopping, and seeing the tree at Rockefeller Center at Christmas. She also liked to garden, go antiquing, and decorate her home inside and out.
Shirley was the beloved wife of Herman Brett; loving mother of Penelope Hughes of Little Egg Harbor, Gregory Brett and his wife Jane of Hawthorne, Jonathan Brett and his wife Allison of Hewitt, Melissa Heck and her husband David of Ringwood, and Matthew Brett of Hewitt; cherished grandmother of Christopher, Matthew and Andrew Heck and Brittany Hughes.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Community Presbyterian Church of Ringwood (communitypc.org) or to Hospice of New Jersey or Florida.
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