Rosemary O. (Oeler) Shipe

Rosemary (Oeler) Shipe

Born October 11, 1924

Returned to the Lord on August 3, 2019

Rosemary O. Shipe, née Oeler, 94 3/4 yrs., after nearly 44 years apart, is reunited with the love of her life, John J. "Jack" Shipe.  Simul in aeteraum.  Married just short of 20 years, they were blessed with 7 children.  She attended Thompson Business School in McKeesport and worked as a clerk at USS Duquesne Works prior to marriage and raising a family.

A never-ending curiosity and wonder of the world, love of language, and card playing kept her sharp her whole life.  She started the latter as a young girl, joining her mother's card club (her youth and her skill making her the least, well-liked player).  High school Latin aided her cross-wording, Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy passions to the end.

Her earthly delights were: books, nightly news, daily newspaper, sewing, quilting, crocheting, needlepoint, holding babies, jelly & pickle making, baking (particularly pie, her last pie crust just a week ago), rainbows, hot air balloons, great coupon deals, birds, flowers, sunsets viewed from the pantry window, beautiful moons, the pig (in any form), Steelers, Pirates baseball, golf, Heath Bar Blizzards, bananas with peanut butter, Honey Nut Cheerios, sitting on the front porch swing at 1012, and her church.

At 90, she embraced the gift of an iPad, expanding her world beyond our expectations: Words With Friends, texting, email, photos and videos, live streaming and, best of all, "Face-ing” with family.  She was interested in EVERYTHING her kids, grands and great grands were doing.  She had a lifelong dedication to her family.

She will be missed by sister, Veronica "Tootsie"; sister in law, Marguerite "Peg"; children Mary Margaret "Mi Mi" (Wayne), John (Kathy), Peter (Nancy), Susan (Jeff), Joanne (Tom), Ruth "Rudy" (Joe), and Paul (Chrissie); grandchildren Mason (Macey), Molly (Owen), Sara Ann (Tim), Jake, Peter "PJ", Christopher, Katherine, Brian (Casey), Andrew (Nicole), Emily (Chris), Daniel, Shannon; and great grandchildren Samantha, Andrew, Zachary, Grant.

In addition to Jack, welcoming her home to heaven, are her Mum & Pappy, Veronica and Albert Oeler; brothers Albert P. and Thomas A.; sister Mary C.; grandson David R. Shipe.

In lieu of flowers, she would be honored if you would support the future of our environment by making a memorial contribution to The David R. Shipe Scholarship Fund at Allegheny College, http://allegheny.edu/davidshipe.

She loved summer annuals, so if you'd like to bring something from your garden or a roadside, weedy patch, vases will be available. 

Final Jeopardy Category:  LOVE

Answer:  THE BEST MUM EVER

Question: Who is Rosebud?

Visitation at Maloy-Schleifer Funeral Home, 915 Kennedy Ave., Duquesne, PA on Friday, August 9, 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m.  Funeral mass, Saturday, August 10 at 10 a.m. at St. Joseph Church, Duquesne.

The family would like to thank Dr. Thomas Wein (and Colleen), who for 30 years gave us confidence that Mum was under the best care.  Thanks, too, to all those at UPMC East; Brooke and Joe of Team 24, UPMC Home Healthcare; and Canterbury Place Hospice who provided compassionate care to Mum and the whole family.

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