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  Shirley Jane (Waite) Parrish was born in Alexander on August 16, 1928 and was the daughter of the late Ellsworth and Neva Conn Waite. She married George B. Parrish, Jr, her lifelong friend and the love of her life, on May 7, 1949 at the West Bethany Baptist Church.

Shirley was a 1945 graduate of Alexander Central School and the Rochester Business Institute in 1946.  She retired from the Alexander School in 1984 after 25 years of service, first in the library and later in the Business Office. A longtime member of the Alexander United Methodist Church, Shirley served in many capacities.  In late years, volunteering as a contact person for the American Red Cross Blood Drive at the Church. She truly enjoyed her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.  She also enjoyed traveling, needlework, reading and having family parties, and garage sales.

Shirley is survived by her husband George, and her three children, daughters Laura (Joseph) Schmieder of Alexander, and Karen (Allan) Cecchini of Silver Lake, and son Robert (Beth) of Bergen.  Also surviving are three grandchildren, Noel (Robyn) Good of Pavilion, Robert (Max) Parrish of LeRoy and Kathryn (Andrew) Bogdan of Akron, plus two great-grandchildren, Nevan Good and Clara Bogdan, and many nieces and nephews. Shirley is also survived by sister-in-laws Mildred Waite and Carol Waite of Alexander, and brother-in-law Del Mills of Texas.

Calling hours will be Held on Wednesday, February 20, 2018 from 4-8 P.M. at the Marley Funeral Home, LLC, 135 Main St., Attica, NY 14011.  A Funeral Service will held on Thursday at 11:00 A.M. at the Alexander United Methodist Church, 10540 Main St, Alexander, NY 14005.

In lieu of flowers please make a donation to the Alexander United Methodist Church, the Stevens Memorial Library, 146 Main St, Attica, NY 14011, or the Alexander Ambulance Fund. For more information please call (585) 591-1212 or to leave a message of condolence visit www.marleyfuneralhome.com. Arrangements completed by Marley Funeral Home, LLC. 135 Main Street, Attica, New York 14011.

Ethyl I. Sojda, age 84, of Creek Rd, Batavia, NY, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by family on April 8th, 2022. Ethyl was born in Batavia as the only daughter of the late Vincent N. and Ruth M. Kirch. She was a life-long resident of Alexander, NY.

After graduating from Alexander Central School, she held various jobs until she married her late husband, John F. Sojda, Jr. in 1961 and raised three children. As a dedicated mother she could be seen braving any weather to watch her children’s sporting events. She returned to work in 1977 and held a number of positions with local companies over the following thirty years. In her last role she was a Loose Ends hostess managing the GCC cafeteria where many folks came to enjoy her kind and pleasant personality and her dedicated work ethic.

Though a long-time crocheter, later in life she became a serious quilter and active in the Batavia Museum Quilt Guild. She produced a number of quilts for family and friends that are still enjoyed daily.

For a number of years, she was also a volunteer with All Babies Cherished. It was not uncommon to see her with her knitting material creating baby hats for the regional hospital system. For many years she was an assistant to John Sojda, Jr. in his role as Alexander Town Justice. Part of her charm and grace was how resiliently and quietly she met life’s challenges—both her own and those of others who knew her.

Ethyl is survived by her sons John and Steve (Barb), her daughter Ann, five grandchildren; Lily Whisman, Jacob (Paige), Stephanie (Patrick) Guarino, Michelle (Andrew) James , and Angela (Martin) Pohl, great-grandchildren; Ezekiel Guarino, Emily and Eli James, Alex, and Maria Pohl. She was preceded by her brother Merlin Kirch and has 4 surviving brothers (Ralph, Arnold, Harold, and Myron), and many nieces and nephews.

Mass at St. Mary's in Batavia at 9:30am Saturday June 25th followed by a graveside service at West Bethany Cemetery. Lunch to follow at her home at

9926 Creek Rd.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Alexander Rescue Squad PO Box 336 Alexander, NY 14005 or Homecare & Hospice 29 Liberty St. Suite 6 Batavia, NY 14020. For more information please call (585) 591-1212 or to leave a message of condolence visit www.marleyfuneralhome.com. Arrangements completed by Marley Funeral Home, LLC, 135 Main Street, Attica, NY 14011