Born on November 27, 1946, in Jeffersonville, Indiana, to William and Stella Butski, Shirley Hewitt grew up in Niagara Falls, New York, where she attended Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Church. After graduating from Niagara Falls High School in 1964 as a member of the Phi Gamma Beta Sorority, she earned a degree from Bryant and Stratton Business Institute in 1965. Shirley's early career included working at Bell Aerosystem from 1965 to 1968, where she contributed to the Apollo Space Program, followed by a year as a flight attendant for Overseas National Airline.

On October 4, 1969, she married Ronald Charles Hewitt of Lewiston, and lived in Batavia, New York, for the next two decades. During her time there, Shirley worked at Sylvania for a short time. She then stayed home to raise her three children: Lisa, Holly, and Brett. Her commitment to the community was evident through her roles as the Genesee County Director of EPIC (Effective Parenting Information for Children) and as the author of the weekly Batavia Daily News column, "Nurturing our Children." Additionally, she served as Chairperson and traveling speaker for the Batavia Christian Women’s Club, and her nurturing spirit truly shined while providing home day care for local children.

The family relocated to Henniker, New Hampshire, in 1989, where they became active members of the Henniker Congregational Church; Shirley led women’s Bible studies, served as a youth group leader, and volunteered extensively. From 1992 to approximately 1998, she owned and operated "Coffees," her own coffee shop in Henniker. She also worked for many years as a substitute teacher in all of the Henniker Schools. An enthusiast of the outdoors and her flower gardens, she has remained an avid hiker, biker, and skier throughout the seasons. For the past 25 years, she and Ron have enjoyed spending their winters in Arizona. Shirley has loved every minute of time spent with her nine grandchildren over the years.

Shirley wrote a book “Proof: You too Can Hear God’s Voice” as a culmination of how God has spoken to her throughout her life. A quote from her book “ If I leave anything of value behind when I depart from this world it will be the memories of time well-spent with family and friends and it will be this book written with love, sincerity and a real desire to share The Good News” If you were blessed to be her friend you were for life as she valued her many deep and special friendships. She treasured her extended family in New York visiting regularly. She was a devoted wife and cherished mother. She loved being a grandmother (aka Mima), always telling her grandchildren “You make my heart dance”. Shirley will be remembered by her compassion, her love for nature and dancing, her strong faith and most of all her unconditional love for her friends and family near and far.

She is survived by her husband Ron (Henniker, NH) children Lisa and Al Fuller (Arizona), Holly and Pete Ophardt (Arizona), Brett and Michelle Hewitt (Texas). Grandchildren: Kendra, Allison, Lauren, Callen, Aubrey, Olivia, Rylee, Weston and Kate. Mother: Stella Callen, Siblings: Bob Butski, Marlene Patterson, Paul Butski and Bill Butski.

Celebration of Life will be held on October 24, 2026 at 1:00pm at the Henniker Congregational Church.

 In lieu of followers a donation can be made in her name to the Henniker Congregational Church https://www.eservicepayments.com/cgi-bin/Vanco_ver3.vps?appver3=wWsk24ZWJSTZKsGd1RMKlg0BDvsSG3VIWQCPJNNxD8upkiY7JlDavDsozUE7KG0nFx2NSo8LdUKGuGuF396vbcWiklZ1kJbu81YPhhC-W5hX7sm9wYZo2onRxYng5iCQvEEUgbepsAG1d1O5A7L11Eb3e9-MQuEQ-TpiEOk7N9Y=&ver=3

Assisting the family with arrangements is the Cremation Society of NH, Manchester. To view Shirley's Online Tribute, send condolences to the family, or for more information, visit www.csnh.com.