Shirley Thomas Hartig, 78 of Ewing, NJ passed quietly at Chandler Hall Health Services in Newtown, PA on Saturday April 24, 2010.

She was born to the late Theron E. & Eva L. Allen, on April 6, 1932 in Washington, D.C. Shirley attended Hunter College High School in NYC and graduated from Trenton Central High School in 1950. Shirley received her BA degree from Ohio Wesleyan University in 1954 (major in speech and communications with minor in music), while also attending classes at N.B.C. Radio & Television Institute at Northwestern University. She later attended Evanston Business College and the American Banking Institute.

She married the late Joseph James Thomas, Jr. in 1956 and they lived together in the Mountainview section of Ewing Township. In 1995, she remarried the late William Hartig, residing in Ewing Township until her death.

Upon graduating from college, Shirley held a number of positions. She was Account Executive Secretary at Henry, Hurst & MacDonald, Inc., (Chicago, Ill.), Executive Secretary to the President and Company Attorney at George J. Cyrus Co. (Chicago, Ill.) and Executive Secretary to the District Sales Manager at Brown & Bigelow (Trenton, NJ). After having children, Shirley resumed her career at Roma Savings & Loan Association (Trenton, NJ) and ultimately retired after 25 years as Executive Secretary.

Throughout her life, Shirley was actively involved in numerous charitable organizations. In 1963, she was one of four founding members of the Trenton Auxiliary Board for the Children’s Home Society of New Jersey – the oldest private, statewide adoption agency in NJ. The Auxiliary Board still thrives today – 46 years later. She was a former president of the Florence Crittenton Home. She was a member of the Junior League of the Delaware Valley, a member of Delta Gamma Sorority and former Secretary of the Union Industrial Home for Children. Later after retiring, she volunteered as a member of the hospice team for the Visiting Nurse Association. She was a member of Daughters of the American Revolution and the Daughters of the American Colonists.

Shirley is survived by three children, Barbara Jean Thomas & husband Joseph G. Hynes of Tarrytown, NY, Joseph James Thomas, III of Tecumseh, MO, and Allen Fray Thomas & wife Robin of Hopewell, NJ. She also is survived by five grandchildren, Alexander Fray & Parker Alan Thomas, Lauren Aine, Samantha Brianna & Amanda Claire Hynes. In addition to her children & grandchildren, Shirley is also survived by her sister Bonnie Emery of Brookfield, WI.

Funeral Service will be Friday at 7pm at the M. William Murphy Funeral Home, 935 Parkway Avenue, Ewing, NJ. Viewing will be Friday from 5pm until time of service. Burial will be private. Visit www.murphyfh.com.

Donations may be made in memory of Shirley to the Children’s Home Society of New Jersey, 635 S. Clinton Ave., Trenton, N.J. 08611 or the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Donor Services, P.O. Box 4072, Pittsfield, MA -01202.