Shirley Gregel Stokes

Shirley Gregel Stokes, 88, of Windsor Locks, beloved wife of the late John J. Stokes, Jr. passed away on Wednesday, March 11, 2026 with her loving family by her side. Born May 21, 1937 in Hartford, daughter of the late Joseph and Veronica (Shary) Gregel. Shirley graduated from Mount St. Joseph Prep School in West Hartford and after raising her eight children at the age of 52 she decided to go to college, where she received her bachelor degree in music at Central Connecticut State University. Shortly after graduating she briefly worked at St. Rose School in East Hartford as a music teacher but decided to dedicate her life to the catholic church music ministry touching many lives with her angelic singing voice. She played the organ and was the music and choir director for over 40 years at many churches in the Hartford area over her long career and retired six years ago from St. Gertrude Church in Windsor. Shirley belonged to the National Association of Pastoral Musicians where she was able to travel, she went to Rome, Italy and met and shook hands with Pope John Paul II, she also went to Jerusalem, Israel and France. She cherished the time she spent with her children and grandchildren, she enjoyed camping and RVing, her favorite trip was to Pine Bush, NY. Shirley also enjoyed reading, writing poetry, stories and learning about the saints and her cherished catholic faith. She is survived by her eight children, Elaine Fedo and her husband, Ronald of Manchester, Kevin Stokes of Windsor Locks, Mary Ann McCauliff and her husband, Stephen of Enfield, Janice McCoy of Enfield, Richard Stokes of Windsor Locks, Carol Frost and her husband, Benjamin of Suffield, John Stokes and his wife, Angela of Suffield, Christine Korytko and her husband, Eddie of Springfield, MA; nine grandchildren, Sarah, Joseph, PJ, Matthew, Rachel, Brooke, Cara, JJ, Camryn; four great grandchildren, Emma, Van, Atlas, Georgia Shirley; a sister, Nancy Emmonds of Enfield. Her family will receive friends on Monday, March 16. 2026 from 5-8 pm at Nicholson & Carmon Funeral Home, 443 East St. N. (Rt. 159), Suffield. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Tuesday, March 17, 2026 at 12:00 pm at Sacred Heart Church, 446 Mountain Rd., Suffield. Burial will be in St. Mary' s Cemetery, Windsor Locks. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to National Shrine of Divine Mercy, 2 Prospect Hill Rd., Stockbridge, MA 01262. To leave on-line condolences please visit www.carmonfuneralhome.com