Born in Sussex in 1935, Shirley was the youngest of 11 children, graduating from Sussex High School in 1953. Tragically, she lost her first husband, Bob, shortly after their wedding in 1959. Soon after, Shirley met Bill, her husband of 41 years when both worked at JR Roof, and they married in 1961. They built their home in Hainesville and raised their two daughters. She lived in the same home until recent years.
Shirley and Bill were co-owners of Milford Motors where both spent most of their working years. Together, they volunteered time with both St. Thomas the Apostle R.C. Church and the Branchville Rotary Club. Though Bill thought of himself as the preeminent golfer in the family, Shirley was the one to score the family’s only hole in one.
In her earlier years, Shirley enjoyed her bowling leagues, and was known to insist that the Rotary teams practice for district volleyball and horseshoe tournaments, making sure all had matching t-shirts. She may have outwardly complained when Bill started making phone calls, but truly, she loved having a house full of family and friends. In later years, Shirley cherished time with her grandchildren, especially in the summer at her pool, spoiling them with ice cream and treats.
Shirley was predeceased by her first husband, Robert DeLorenzo; her husband, William (Bill) Strong; her parents, James and Minnie (VanGordon) Conklin; her siblings, Dorothy Losey, James Conklin, Elma Sipley, Donald Conklin, Gladys Jannarone, Helen VanKirk, Harry Conklin, Mary McDonald and Charles (Mike) Conklin. She is survived by her two daughters, Georgi Munger of Rumson and her husband, Peter, and Kelly Koss of Hopatcong and her husband, Eric; 7 grandchildren, Catherine Munger of Manhattan, Michael Munger of Palm Beach, Susan Munger of Rumson, Dominic DelGaizo of Jefferson and his wife, Cassidy, Alyssa DelGaizo of Jefferson , Vincent DelGaizo of Jefferson; and her last surviving sibling, Vivian Straway of Newton.
Visitation will be held from 10:30 am to 11:30 am on Monday, February 27, 2023, at St. Thomas the Apostle R.C.C., 210 US-206, Sandyston, NJ, with a Mass of Christian Burial at 11:30 am. Interment will follow in Hainesville Cemetery, Cemetery Rd, Sandyston, NJ. Arrangements are under the direction of Wood Funeral Home, online condolences may be offered at www.woodfuneralhome.net.
