One day at St. Mary’s elementary school in Erie, Pa. , Shirley Ann Draheim and James Detzel emerged from classrooms opposite a hallway and spied each other. Instantly a grace descended and they became child sweethearts.
In 1953, after courting on the pebbly beaches of Presque Isle State Park, they married while Jim served in the Navy. A brood of four rapscallion boys soon followed, then, surprisingly, a decade to the day after the first child, a bubbly blonde girl. Shirley focused on raising the children with unfathomable energy, creativity and love.
She cooked miraculous meals and sumptuous desserts, nursed them through scores of illnesses and accidents, reprimanded and consoled, sewed them stylish clothing working late into the night, and insisted on excellence in school. To support Jim, she took outside work – grocery clerk, medical receptionist, and designer at Schaefer Flowers in York, where her innate artistry blossomed. In summers, she laughed and wisecracked at the pool or shore with her neighbor and euchre partner, Cecilia James.
Grandchildren extended her family mission. With Jim she cheered them at hundreds of sporting events, brought presents and encouragement, and provided their parents advice and respite. Before illness robbed her abilities, Shirl churned a stream of finely worked embroideries, crafts and inventive greeting cards that all in the family treasure as loving keepsakes.
Shirley was born on November 4, 1930, in Erie, where she attended Catholic and public schools. Her father, John Draheim, worked as a pipefitter and her mother Lottie as a homemaker. Shirl passed away on January 21, 2019, at the SpiriTrust Lutheran Village at Sprenkle Drive in York after several years of struggle with dementia.
She was 88 and only days away from a 66th wedding anniversary. Shirl is survived by her husband Jim, a faithful and selfless caregiver; by children Thomas, Daniel, David, Stephen, Jane and their spouses; by 16 grandchildren; and by 19 great-grandchildren. Following cremation, a funeral Mass will be held at 11:00 a.m. Friday, January 25, 2019, at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 2935 Kingston Road, York, PA 17402.
A visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Friday at the church. A private burial will be held in Indiantown Gap National Cemetery at the convenience of the family. In lieu of flowers, please make a contribution in her memory to your favorite charity.
Arrangements by the Etzweiler Funeral Homes and Cremation Service, 1111 E. Market St. York, PA 17403. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Shirley Ann (Draheim) Detzel please visit our Sympathy Store.
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