Watervliet – Shirley A. Czarnecki passed away peacefully on Friday, February 16, 2018 at the age of 91.
Shirley was a long-time Watervliet resident and more recently resided at the Pines at Heartwood in Troy.

Born in Troy on December 15, 1926, Shirley was a daughter of the late John and Anna (Farnam) Nielsen. She was raised in Schaghticoke and Pleasantdale and educated in Troy public schools. Before her marriage, Shirley worked for F. Jacobson and Sons, Inc., in Troy and later at the Watervliet Arsenal. After her children had grown, Shirley worked for Daisy and Ollie’s Corner Store in Watervliet, Montgomery Ward and Company and Two Guys Department Store, both in Menands. She was married to the late Elcyjan J. Czarnecki until his passing in 1988 at the age of 65.

Shirley dedicated much of her life to raising and caring for her family and tending to her home. Her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren were a great source of pride for Shirley and they are filled with fond memories of the love she had for them. A talented cook, Shirley enjoyed preparing Sunday dinners and having her family gathered in her home during the holidays. Some of her favorite things were camping, enjoying long and scenic rides in the country, ceramics and playing bingo. In quiet times, she enjoyed the comfort of her home, reading and watching her favorite television programs. Shirley enjoyed volunteerism and service to her community through her membership in the Home Bureau and, on occasion, would fill in as a substitute teacher at the former Immaculate Conception School in Watervliet. She lived her life in accordance with the Christian values she learned through her membership in the Lutheran faith. Shirley leaves a legacy of love to those whom she held dear and will be missed by all those whose lives she touched.

Shirley’s family offers their heartfelt thanks to Dr. Hussain A. Khawaja and Dr. Gattu N. Rao, the staff at the Pines at Heartwood, Watervliet and Troy paramedics, the rehabilitation staff of the Eddy Heritage House, the doctors, nurses and staff of the Samaritan Hospital and the Samaritan Hospital Emergency Room, for the care given to Shirley both in recent times and over the years.

In addition to her parents and her husband, Shirley was preceded in death by her infant children, Gary and Pamela; her granddaughter Jennifer Lynn Hebert; her brothers, John, Raymond, Leon, Gilbert and Robert Nielsen and her sisters, Elnora and Aurelia Nielsen, Alma Messier, Jean Brown and Phyllis Bourassa. She is survived by her children, Lucian J. (Karen) of Texas, Claudia J. (Gilbert) Kellenberger of Niskayuna and Jeffery (Karen) of Watervliet; her grandchildren, Loree, Amy, Lucian, Jr., Jeffery, Rebecca and Eric; her great-grandchildren, Tate, Tucker, Jeffery, Jr., Sean and Evalyn; her sisters, Sandra Ferro and Karen Kerr both of Schenectady as well as many nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.

A funeral service will be held on Friday at 10 am in the Parker Bros. Memorial, 2013 Broadway, Watervliet. Interment will follow in Immaculate Conception Cemetery, Watervliet. Friends are invited and may also visit with Shirley’s family on Thursday from 4 until 7 pm at the funeral home.


Shirley had a fondness for animals. She enjoyed dogs, cats, bird watching, observing wildlife and her visits to the Berkshire Bird Paradise. In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to the Mohawk and Hudson Humane Society in memory of Shirley.

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