Obituary of Shirley J. Ponzi

Ponzi, Shirley J Our wonderful and amazing mother, grandmother, wife, nurse, teacher and dear friend passed away peacefully early Friday morning, September 23, 2016, after a battle with cancer. Shirley is survived by her loving husband of 50 years, Lawrence J. Ponzi, Jr.; daughter, Lisa (Mike) M. Simmons; son, Lawrence (Christine) J Ponzi III; six grandchildren, Joseph, Zachary, Kristen, and Sarah Simmons of Victor NY; Isabella and Annaliese Ponzi of Alexandria, VA; brothers, Charles (Marge) Spaulding of Horseheads, Jim (Linda) Spaulding of Athens, PA and John (Denise) Spaulding of Waverly, NY; sisters, Catherine Root of Milledgeville GA, Brenda Stephens of St. Augustine FL; many loving cousins including Susan Weber of Montvale NJ, Nancy Phaneuf of Toano, VA, Robert Spaulding of Cape Coral, FL; and many cousins in Arkansas where her mother was from. Shirley was born April 21, 1942 and grew up in a beautiful farm setting in Waverly, NY. Shirley graduated from Arnot Ogden Memorial Hospital School of Nursing in 1962, and worked as an RN through 2004 while also serving as a Clinical Instructor for the LPN Nursing Program at BOCES Bush Campus. Shirley and Lawrence married April 23, 1966, in St Anthony’s Church in Elmira, NY. She loved her family, friends, countless mystery novels, travel and everything about her life. Family and friends are invited to call at the Barber Funeral Home, Inc., 413 S. Main St., Horseheads on Sunday, September 25, 2016, from 2-5:00 pm. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated in St. Mary Our Mother Church, 816 W. Broad St., Horseheads on Monday, September 26, 2016, at 10:00 am. Those wishing to honor her memory may give to the Children's Miracle Network, C/O A.O.M.C., 600 Roe Ave., Elmira, NY 14905 or the Chemung County Humane Society & SPCA, Inc., 2435 St Route 352, Elmira, NY 14903. Words can not express how special she is to all of us. Condolences and remembrances at www.barberfuneralhome.com Special thanks to the caring staff at the Arnot Ogden Memorial Hospital, floor 2B, as well as the wonderful lifelong friends that worked with Shirley on 4C. The “Bookclub”, friends, neighbors as well as all the generous support from family.