Shirley W. Hilchey

ARLINGTON- Shirley Winifred Thompson Hilchey, 86, died Thursday, March 5, surrounded by family and friends at her home, after a brief battle with cancer (Burkitt’s lymphoma).
Mrs. Hilchey was born in Chester to Adolphus Joseph Thompson and Winifred Darling Hazeltine on March 27, 1933. Her husband of nearly 60 years, Robert Lincoln Hilchey, died on July 26, 2010.
Mrs. Hilchey was a longtime resident of Bennington and for the last 14 years of Arlington. She started her business “Shirley’s Shop” in 1980. She ran her upholstery business with the help of her daughters for many years. When her husband retired in 1990 they started a courier business together. For the next 10 years they operated Hilchey’s Courier Service.
Mrs. Hilchey loved traveling with family and friends. She inherited her love of flowers from her mother. Her loving and caring disposition was well known by all who knew her. Mrs. Hilchey’s faith as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses was outstanding.
She leaves behind many heartbroken friends and family, including six children: Gary (Jayne) Hilchey, of Holyoke MA, Lynn (Bernard) Dupuis, of Wilmington, Sandy (Joe) Hagadorn, of Cambridge, NY, Glenn (Tammy) Hilchey, of Lexington, NC, Wendi (Douglas) McCauley, of Arlington, and Chris (Reona) Hilchey, of Lexington, NC; 26 grandchildren; and 29 great-grandchildren. She is survived by two sisters, Adella Crossman and Mary Russell.
A memorial service will be held Saturday, March 21, at 4 pm at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses, at 393 Gore Road in Bennington. Donations in her memory may be made to donate.jw.org. To send the family personal condolences visit www.sheafuneralhomes.com.