Shirley Ann Lonneman

Shirley Ann (Grafe) Lonneman, passed away at the age of 89 on May 4, 2025 at Bayley Place in Delhi, where she had been a resident for the last three years She was a life long westsider, born on May 23, 1935. She grew up in Price Hill and moved to Delhi when she married her husband, Harry “Irish” Lonneman in 1957. The Grafe Family lived on Seton Ave right down the street from St Lawrence corner. Shirley went to grade school at St Lawrence and graduated from Seton High School. She went to work briefly before becoming a full time mom starting in 1958 when Harry and Shirley had their first child.

Her life was defined by the core elements of faith, family, friends and food. At both St Lawrence and Our Lady of Victory parishes, she was a devoted Catholic and had incredibly deep faith, she placed her whole life in God’s hands. Not only through celebrating the Eucharist, she also supported her parish through volunteering, especially ironing the church linens at Our Lady of Victory for many years. Her passion and primary responsibility was raising her five children and running the household. She and Harry defined the term “teamwork” as they each had their role supporting each other and the family with their strengths. Mom the organizer, dad the fixer and innovator, mom the great cook, dad the idea man, mom the supporter, dad the ‘Jack of all trades’. When Harry had his heart issues and could not drive, Shirley stepped up and drove for years. They were a team and always found a way to enjoy life no matter what came thier way. 

Family and friends were always welcome at 5528 to sit around the round oak table. She found the table at a thrift shop, brought it home, Harry repaired the cracks, Shirley refinished it, and that table was the cornerstone of family and visitors where food and stories were shared. Her knack for telling stories with great details was always a delight learning about her family history. That table saw plenty of her deserts like her incredible homemade pies and cheese cake and it was adorned annually with fresh bouquets of lilacs from her yard, filling the home with natures fragrance. These were simple pleasures that were priceless to her. 

She loved to plan family activities, the Lonneman Christmas Open House, the Fathers Day picnic at Delhi Park, 25th wedding anniversaries for her children, lunches with her cousins, and travel with her siblings and their spouses. Shirley and Harry loved to travel, whether packing the seven family members into a car and driving cross country or traveling with her or dad's siblings, or escaping the cold to spend January and February at their condo in Siesta Key where they had their Florida friends. She was always grateful and knew that life rewarded her immensely, except for her arthritis which caused her significant pain. But in typical Shirley fashion, she just took it in stride, always prompting her to remind us….”the good thing about arthritis is that it will not kill you, the bad thing about arthritis is that it won’t kill you”. She carried her burden with strength and dignity.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Harry “Irish” Lonneman, who she was married to for 56 years. She was the loving mother of Mark (Denise) Lonneman, the late Vince (Janet living) Lonneman, Peggy (Jerry) James, Kevin (Paula) Lonneman, and Kathy Sebastian. She was blessed to be the grandmother of Christopher, Ryan, Shannon, Romey, Tara, Kyle, Simon, Brenna, Alex, Sydney, Dean and the late Matthew James, and the great grandmother of Bryson, Rory, June, Bennett and Rexford. She was the last surviving sibling of the Grafe family, her brother Elmer (Julia) Grafe, and sisters Lorraine (Bill) Busch, Margie (Stan) Schoenung, Eileen (Bob) Ratterman and Sister Mary

A memorial gathering will take place at Bayley place, 990 Bayley Drive Cincinnati, Ohio 45233 on Friday May 23, 2025 from 9:30am until the time the Memorial Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30am

Donations can be made in her name to Our Lady of Victory