Shirley Eichelberger Brandt, 77, passed away at home January 30, 2014, in Frederick, Maryland, from pulmonary fibrosis. Shirley was born February 26, 1936, in Woodsboro to Albert Otha Eichelberger and Josephine Morgan Eichelberger (both deceased) and had one brother, Claude Albert Eichelberger (deceased). She graduated from Walkersville High School in 1954. She worked as a secretary at Fort Detrick from 1954 until 1958. She sold real estate for five years and then worked for the District Court of Maryland, from 1971 until her retirement 25 years later in 1996. In 1997, Shirley joined her husband Robert E. Brandt as a volunteer with the Frederick Memorial Hospital Auxiliary. She served in a number of positions while accumulating over 1,000 hours of service. She first volunteered in hospice and then in the Emergency Room at night. Until recently, Shirley greeted patients, visitors and phone callers as a volunteer at the main entrance Welcome Desk. When not volunteering at the hospital, Shirley was often busy at home making caps for the newborn babies delivered at the hospital. She made over 10,000 hats for newborn infants. She is survived by her husband, Robert E. Brandt, whom she married on October 29, 1954, and their three children, Steven Brandt and his husband Richard Boylan of St Pete Beach, Florida, Teresa Stitely and her husband David Stitely of Middletown, Maryland, and Diane DiCroce of Palm Harbor, Florida, along with five grandchildren, Michael DiCroce, Molly DiCroce, Devin Stitely, Wyatt Stitely and Bailey Jo Stitely, and a number of nieces and nephews, as well as her lifelong friend, Gloria Handley. The family will receive friends from 2:00-4:00 and 6:00-8:00pm on Wednesday, February 5 at the Keeney and Basford Funeral Home, 106 E Church Street, where services will be held at 11:00am on Thursday, February 6, with Father PothinNgyele officiating. Interment will follow at Resthaven Memorial Gardens, Frederick. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorials be made in Shirley's name to Hospice of Frederick County at PO Box 1799, Frederick, Maryland 21702,or online at www.hospiceoffrederick.org.
