Ernel Margaret Shorkey

Ernel Margaret Shorkey (née Sevigny), daughter of Dorothy (Looby) and Ernest Sevigny of Tampa, FL passed away at the age of 89 in Charlotte, NC on September 29th after a brief illness. Ernel was a resident of Carmel Hills Retirement Community in Charlotte, NC at the time of her death.

Ernel is survived by her four sons: Michael Shorkey of Lady Lake, FL; Glenn Shorkey and Steven (Meredith) Shorkey of Charlotte, NC, and David (Donna) Shorkey of Ballston Spa, NY; by grandchildren: Steven Paul Jr. (Paul), Ian and Ryan; Curtiss, Spencer, and Maria Ernel; great-grandchildren: Steven Paul III (Trace), Amelia and Theodore (Teddy). She is preceded in death by her husband, Waldo Shorkey, and her sisters Josephine (Sevigny) Ball and Sister Elinor Sevigny (SHNJM).

A native of Tampa, Ernel was a 1951 graduate of Sacred Heart Academy of Tampa and a 1954 graduate of the Charity Hospital School of Nursing (New Orleans) where she became a registered nurse. After her marriage to Waldo in 1956, she settled in Schenectady, NY to work and raise her family. As an RN Ernel was instrumental in starting maternity classes for expectant mothers at Bellevue Women's Hospital in Schenectady, NY.

Ernel was an excellent cook and loved entertaining her family and friends in her home, especially her grandchildren. Ernel and Walt liked to travel and visited a large portion of the US while raising their children and continued to travel in retirement with visits to Europe, the Holy Land and Alaska, often in the company of life-long friends and family. Ernel remained close to many of her Sacred Heart Academy classmates and she and Walt enjoyed reconnecting with them after returning to Tampa in retirement. They were active in the community and long-time parishioners of Christ the King Catholic Church.

Family members will receive visitors at Blount and Curry Funeral Home (605 S. MacDill) from 4 to 6 p.m. on Sunday, October 22nd. A Funeral Mass to celebrate Ernel's life, officiated by Fr. Jacob, will be held at Christ the King Church (821 S. Dale Mabry) at 10:00AM on Monday, October 23rd, all are welcome to attend. Internment at Garden of Memories of Tampa (4207 East Lake Drive) will immediately follow the mass.

The family would like to thank all the staff of Carmel Hills and Via Health Partners (Hospice Charlotte) for their loving care of Ernel.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Memory and Movement Charlotte, 411 Billingsley Road, Suite 103, Charlotte, NC 28211.