Shirley Ann Wolfe (nee Richardson), our beloved Mom and Nonnie, peacefully passed away after a short battle with liver cancer, on October 21, 2016. She was born and grew up in Chicago, Illinois, the only child of Selby G. Richardson, a retired Chicago police detective, and Eleanor H. Richardson (nee Dietrich) on October 9, 1925.
She graduated from Morgan Park High School in 1943 excelling academically as well as developing her secretarial skills in typing, stenography, and writing which she applied immediately after graduation as a secretary at the People’s Gas, Coke & Light Company where she rose to Executive Secretary. She worked full time until her first pregnancy, then became a full time homemaker , excelling as a seamstress (she once made a fully lined suit for herself as well as clothing for her daughter’s Barbie doll), knitter, baker (what great Christmas cookies, cakes, and pies), and a great cook (best pot roast EVER and who could forget her intoxicated pork). She worked part time as her children got older, retiring in 1991 from Gallagher Bassett, where she served as bookkeeper/secretary.
She married her loving husband and lifelong partner on May 7, 1949, Fredrick W. Wolfe, whom she met on a blind date arranged by a cousin of a cousin, who happened to be Fred’s best friend. They had three children (Craig, Kurt, and Susan) and 66 wonderful years together.
She was an avid golfer, regularly shooting in the low 100’s. She was a 30 year member of the Rolling Hills Golf Club in Longwood, Florida and served as its secretary for many years. She enjoyed traveling the country and playing golf with her husband and friends. Upon moving from the Orlando area to Melbourne, she joined the Suntree Country Club. She was also a past secretary of the Quail Point Homeowners Association.
In her later years, she was an extremely lucky BINGO player, dominating at Town Square, where she resided the last few years.
Beautiful both inside and out, she was always impeccably dressed, well mannered, kind and sweet through and through. She loved to share her memories of riding the train to downtown Chicago, dancing to the big bands of her era, the ticker tape parade when WWII ended, and swimming and playing on Lake Michigan and the Indiana dunes.
Predeceased by her husband, mother and father, she is survived by her children, Craig, Kurt (Marcy), and Susan Ericson (Harry); her grandchildren, Katharine Baran (Michael), Bryan, Thomas, Jesstine, Kelsey, Patrick, Cory Ericson, and Kyle Ericson(Anne), her brother –in- law Paul (Patricia) of Cleveland, Ohio and sister –in- law Gwendolyn McEvoy of Bennington, Nebraska, also many nieces and nephews and her one great grandchild, Jakob Fredrick Baran.
Additionally, the family wishes to thank the caring staff of Town Square Assisted Living and Wuesthoff Hospice Care for all their professional and compassionate care and assistance.