Shirley Alice O'Day Hodges Obituary (1933 - 2018)

Shirley Alice O'Day Hodges, age 85, of Summit Twp., passed away on Friday, June 29, 2018, at St. Mary's Asbury Ridge. She was born on March 29, 1933 in Erie, PA, daughter of the late Steve "Sam" and Elzada "Ada" O'Day. Shirley married Dennis Hodges, Sr. on July 3, 1952. She graduated from Academy High School, class of 1952. She earned her B.S. and Masters of Education degrees from Edinboro University and taught in the Erie School District, retiring in 1995. Shirley made Women's Cursillo #88, worked on the #155 Women's Cursillo team and was a member of the NEA, PSEA, and Millcreek Kiwanis Club. She traveled to most of the U.S. states, the Caribbean, Bosnia, to take supplies to refuges during the Bosnian War, and many European countries, including Ireland to meet Ursula McCrea, her pan pal since their teens. She was also an exchange teacher in Germany in 1986. Besides traveling, Shirley enjoyed reading mysteries, writing short stories and poems for her family, photography, genealogy, and arts and crafts. The most joy for her was being with her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and special students. In addition to her parents, Shirley was preceded in death by her foster parents, Howard and Alberta Dornhoefer; one son, Dennis Hodges, Jr.; one daughter, Dee Lila Hodges; one grandson, Michael Ricci, Jr.; four infant grandchildren; an infant sister, Gertrude Harriet O'Day; five brothers, Clarence Lee, Ernest, John "Jack," Mark and Stephen O'Day; two foster brothers, Samuel and Howard Dornhoefer; and two aunts that were like mothers to her, Leona Geisler and Gertrude "Trudy" Becker Stevens. Shirley is survived by her husband, Dennis Leon Hodges, Sr.; five daughters, Denise Nelson, Dixie Hodges, Delores Hodges, Diane Ricci (Mike), and Deborah McCandless (Eric); two sons, Dale Hodges Sr. (Barb) and Douglas Hodges, Sr. (Pam); two sisters, Deborah Anthony (Ken) and Marilyn Hinspeter; 27 grandchildren; 40 great-grandchildren; four great-great-grandchildren with two soon to be born; many nieces, nephew, cousins and close friends also survive. Friends may call at the Dusckas Funeral Home, Inc., 2607 Buffalo Road, on Monday, from 3 to 7 pm, and are invited to attend a Funeral Service there on Tuesday at 11 am. Interment, Valley Cemetery. Donations may be made to the charity of one's choice.