Shirley M. McNevich

Shirley M. McNevich (nee Herman) passed peacefully into God's loving arms on Friday, July 5, 2024. 

 She is the daughter of the late Pauline and Irvin Herman of Stonington, PA. She is survived by her husband of almost 65 years Charles J. "Chuck" McNevich Jr. of Sunbury, PA and son Charles J. "Chuck" McNevich III of Lexington Park, Maryland as well as numerous relatives both in and outside of Pennsylvania. 

 Shirley met her husband Chuck on an Irish Valley hayride in 1956. While they were dating, she worked at the Tastee Freeze in Tharptown, PA. The two were married at Jacob’s United Church of Christ in Elysburg, PA on September 26, 1959 and will be celebrating their 65th wedding anniversary in September 2024. While her husband Chuck was doing a six-year stint in the Army, Shirley worked for a few months at the Dutch Pantry, and then went to work doing what she loved--cooking and waitressing at Keithan’s Restaurant in Sunbury for the next nine years.

 Many of Shirley’s family members were members of Catawissa Avenue United Methodist Church in Sunbury. Shirley began attending church, and when Chuck came home on leave for Easter 1961, they joined Catawissa Avenue United Methodist Church. Their son Chuck was born in 1965. After living and renting an apartment above relatives for a few years on Catawissa Avenue, Sunbury, they bought their long-term home one block away on Augusta Street, Sunbury.

 Shirley was involved with United Methodist Women for many years. Shirley and her husband Chuck took care of the church altar flowers, usually using flowers from Shirley’s Garden. They were in charge of the food pantry for a period of time as well, and could always be found working in the kitchen helping with various church activities. Shirley's favorite two hymns were "In the Garden" and "How Great Thou Art". She also volunteered at events and activities for many years at the Drumheller Elementary School (less than a block away), and lots of other school activities as their son Chuck got older. Volunteering for many activities and fundraisers for the Shikellamy Marching Braves band was always a highlight. Shirley and Chuck were always Penn State football fans, and were so proud when their son Chuck attended and then graduated from Penn State University in 1988.

 Shirley was an avid home cook. She was famous around the area at Easter time for her famous chocolate Easter eggs. She was the keeper of many family recipes (and also Keithan's Restaurant recipes). In 2006 Shirley started reciting one recipe per night to her son, who would post them on her blog "Mom's Best Recipes" which is still free and active at https://momsbest.blogspot.com/ 

 She has six published cookbooks which are available at https://archive.org/search?query=creator%3A%22Shirley+McNevich%22 as well as https://www.lulu.com/spotlight/imaref 

 Her green thumb was legendary. If you wanted to know how or what to plant and when, you checked with Shirley first. She was so proud of her beautiful yard, flowers, rose bushes and garden. She was always providing plant slips and snipping’s to anyone who would ask. Her home-grown pickles were always used to make 14-day pickles using her Aunt Ada's recipe.

 Shirley was such a wonderful wife and mother. She will be remembered for always dropping everything to help anyone in need. 

 The family is so grateful to the staff at Sunbury Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, as well as hospice care provided by Compassus.