NORWICH – Shirley Meskil Haynes, who lived most of her life in Norwich, died Friday, June 3, 2011 at the Masonic care Facility in Utica after a long illness. She was 83 years old.
She was born in Albany in 1928 to Mildred (O’Malley) and Paul Meskil. Her late brother Paul Meskil Jr. was a long time reporter and travel writer for the New York Daily News; her brother Dr. Alan Meskil and his wife Carole live in Massachusetts.
She is survived by her immediate family: husband James A. Haynes Jr., originally of Norwich and lately of the Masonic Care Facility in Utica; sons Peter (deceased), Jamie (Lourdes) Haynes of Old Saybrook, CT, Paul Haynes of Amherst, MA, Christopher Haynes of Northampton, MA, and Allyson Haynes Hunter (Kevin) of Syracuse. She leaves seven grandchildren and two great grandchildren, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
She was a graduate of William Smith College, where she majored in mathematics. It was there she met future husband Jim, who attended Hobart before attending Albany law school. She worked as a manager for AT&T while her husband completed his law studies, both moving to Norwich in 1952.
Shirley was known for her good cheer, gift of friendship, sense of humor, and love of anything and everything musical. She played piano and clarinet, and sang in the Emmanuel Episcopal Church choir for more than 55 years. She tutored students in Math in the Norwich school system, did volunteer work for The American Cancer Society, served on the Board of the Chenango Valley Home and on the Vestry of the Emmanuel Episcopal Church.
A funeral mass will be held on Wednesday at Emmanuel Episcopal Church at 10 a.m., with a reception to follow in the church hall.
In lieu of flowers, contributions to Emmanuel Episcopal Church or the Chenango County Hospice would be appreciated.
The arrangements are under the direction of the Wilson Funeral Home. Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting the funeral home website at: www.wilsonfh.com.