Shoshanna Jael Henya (11-26-17)

Shoshanna Henya died Sunday, Nov. 26, after a long illness.
She was born on Sept. 29, 1947, in Mattoon, Illinois, the daughter of the late Dorothea Parlett Haney and the late John G. Haney.
The family moved to Dade County, Florida, in 1951. Ms. Henya resided in northwest Hardin County for the past 13 years.
Ms. Henya enjoyed a varied career during her lifetime. She was a scholar, attending the University of South Florida for undergraduate years, and the University of Iowa for her graduate studies. She earned cum laude degrees in religious studies, held the Golden Key of Arts and Letters for academic excellence, and was a member of Phi Kappa Phi and Eta Sigma Phi Honor Societies. She was an accomplished linguist, reading and writing Biblical Hebrew, ancient Greek, and Latin, as well as French, Spanish and German.
She was also a talented musician with a beautiful voice, serving as Cantor for her synagogue in Florida and leading religious services when the rabbi was not present. In addition, Ms. Henya performed with local secular groups in the Tampa Bay area. Before retiring on disability, Ms. Henya worked as a bond broker for J.B. Hanauer.
She loved the country life, having lived on a farm in up-state New York as a young woman. Ms. Henya was delighted to return to farm life, helping to raise livestock and a big garden and canning the produce from her labors. She was an excellent seamstress and quilter, belonging to Pieceful Quilters in Savannah as long as she was able.
She is survived by her partner of 19 years, Mary Ross of Hardin County; one brother, John Haney and his wife Jane of Hanover, Pennsylvania and Clearwater, Florida; her nephew, John C. Haney and his wife Gianna of St. Petersburg, Florida; and her niece, Julie Kirsch, her husband Bill and their daughter Norah of Hanover, Pennsylvania. She will be missed by a large community of friends and extended family across the nation.
In accordance with her wishes, Ms. Henya will be cremated and her ashes scatterd in a location she loved.