Shirley May Harer

Shirley May Harer (née Parkhurst), 91, of Voluntown, CT passed away peacefully on January 26, 2023, at home surrounded by her family.

Shirley was born in Warwick, RI to parents, Leroy and Florence Parkhurst on December 22, 1931.  She graduated from Gorton High School in Warwick and attended Johnson and Wales Business School in Providence, RI.

She married Ronald Harer on November 10, 1956, and shared 66 years together. They raised their family in Montrose, NY for 45 years, spending their summers in Voluntown, CT before becoming snowbirds between homes in Voluntown and Boynton Beach, FL, eventually residing full-time in Voluntown.  While living in NY, Shirley was an active member of Trinity Boscobel United Methodist Church and worked for The Mearl Corporation as a bookkeeper before becoming a full-time mother and homemaker.  She enjoyed her lake life while welcoming friends and family, spending time at the ocean, sewing, gardening, traveling America, dining out, motorcycle rides, attending country music shows and enjoying time with all of her grandchildren.

Besides her parents, Shirley is predeceased by her brothers: Francis, Robert, Donald and Everett Parkhurst, a sister Doris Parkhurst, her in-laws Charles and Virginia Harer and many dear friends.

Shirley is survived by her loving husband, Ronald Harer and her beloved daughters, Judy Cummins, Tina Finnegan and Audrey Stejskal.  Her devoted sons-in-law, John Cummins and Martin Stejskal.  Her cherished grandchildren, Brian Cummins and his wife Nicole, Jeff Cummins, Shaun Finnegan and his wife Veronica, Laurel Stejskal, Kyle Stejskal and her great grandsons, Nicholas Dellaport and Brycen Cummins along with her loyal sister-in-law, Jean Parkhurst.

A funeral service will be held on Saturday, March 18, 2023, at 1:00pm at Gagne-Piechowski Funeral Home, 490 Voluntown Road, Jewett City, CT. Followed by a luncheon at River Ridge Golf Course at 259 Preston Road in Griswold, CT.  Burial private at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Shirley’s name to:

Masonicare Eastern Hospice, Norwich 

97 Barnes Road – Suite 4 

Wallingford, CT 06492

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