Obituary of Shirley R DeGrilla

Shirley Rebecca DeGrilla (Hackett) was born on August 13, 1946 to Ossie C. and Maggie M. Hackett (previously deceased). She departed this life on December 26, 2012 at Virtua Hospital, Voorhies, New Jersey after a brief illness. Shilrey was born in Richmond, Virginia, however the family moved to Camden, New Jersey in 1948. She was raised in Camden, New Jersey where she attended and graduated from Bergen Lanning Square, Hatch Junior High and Camden High School. She was a good student who had a goal of becoming a nurse. After high school, Shirley went to work for Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital. She started as a medical records clerk but was promoted to Assistant Director of the Department during the fourteen years she remained there. She also served as Medical Records Director at Kensington and Pennsylvania Hospitals. She worked for Camcare Mental Health, Camden County Jail, Philadelphia Child Guidance Clinic and many other health facilities in the Delaware Valley. Shirley attended all the training necessary to keep her license active. Shirley met and married the late Edward "Eddie" Alexander DeGrilla in 1967. Shirley had a great love of children, television, catering, decorating, talking on the telephone and giving medical sdvice. Shirley had a tremendous memory for details, dates, times and numbers. Miss Shirley as she was affectionately known was available to help children wwith their homework; she would also provide something to eat and a place to stay for anyone who needed it. Shirley was diagnosed with chronic asthma which did not allow her to work a full time job so she started a family daycare in her home. She provided service for babysitting and foster children. She raised about thirty young people and continued to babysit until her death. Shirley had a tremendous commitment to the community and a love of family. She shared a bond with her brother as they lived together and relied on each other for many years. They traveled to the stores, shopping and delivering goods to various schools, churches and taking food to the sick and shut in. Shirley leaves to mourn seven sisters: Catherine A. Gray, Valerie Davis, Lisa Hackett-Miles, Paula Carter and predeceased Carolyn Randall, five brothers: Ossie Hackett III (Junior), Dennis Robinson, William Carter, Albert Hackett and predeceased Hobart Carter, mother-in-law, Ms. Elizabeth DeGrilla, one aunt Bernice Jones, one special cousin, "Lori" Vanessa Stephens and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and numerous children whom she treated as her own, Tahron Miles, Alone Thomas and Ajanni Haltiwanger.