Shirley Margaret "Shirl" Breuninger

Shirley Margaret Breuninger of West Chester Shirley Margaret Breuninger of West Chester passed away on Tuesday Dec. 11, 2012, at the age of 84. Anyone who has met "Shirl" knows that she was a genuine "piece of work." Her uniquely definite personality and equally firm opinions were key to her high level of personal artistry and taste. And, she had a delicious sense of humor that was always contemporary and at the ready. Shirley grew up on a dairy farm in upstate New York near Syracuse. Her mother, widowed at an early age, went on to manage the farm on her own... quite unusual for a woman to do that way back when. Shirley went to Syracuse University as an art major, met her first husband Jack and immediately eloped with him. Five children and one divorce later, Shirley met Bill Breuninger, an up-and-coming custom home builder living in Malvern. Together, they renovated a 18th Century Chester County farmhouse on North New Street that they named "Snug Hollow Farm," produced a sixth child and enjoyed their 54 year marital partnership where Bill built and Shirley designed. Later, once the brood was out of the nest, Bill and Shirley transformed "Snug Hollow Farm" into a successful B&B for many years until Bill's passing last September. Shirley is survived by her children, Karen Ann Breuninger Lutschaunig and her husband Mark of Olney, Md., Glenn Scott Breuninger of Costa Rica, John Douglas Braunig of Florida, Nancy Margaret Breuninger Dalkey and her husband Alex of San Jose, Calif., Robert McGregor Braunig of Florida, and Susan Margaret Arias and her husband Rodney of Hawaii; and her grandchildren, Nicholas, Christopher, Kristina, Kevin and Kristen. Relatives and friends are invited to her funeral service 10 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 18, 2012, at the DellaVecchia, Reilly, Smith & Boyd Funeral Home, Inc., 410 North Church St., West Chester; 610-696-1181 www.DellaFH.com Visitation will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. Monday, Dec. 17, 2012, at the funeral home. Interment Washington Memorial Chapel Cemetery, Valley Forge, Pa. In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to the Chester County Hospital Foundation, 701 E. Marshall St., West Chester, PA 19380.