Shirley Lessman

Shirley Lessman went home to be with her Lord on Wednesday morning, November 20, 2024, at The Woolwich Gardens Assisted Living Facility. She is survived by her loving husband, Anthony Lessman, a sister, Louise Trost, 3 children, eight grandchildren, two great grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.

She was born on January 28, 1939, and raised on a farm in Palestine, Illinois. And just like in the song, she left the farm as soon as she graduated high school for the city lights of Chicago. She found employment as a secretary in a Veterans Hospital and soon, thereafter, on New Years Eve, 1958, met an Air Force Veteran named Tony who was a student in a technical institute. They’d go on to share a 64-year marriage blessed by three children, Deborah (Brent) Keane, Stephen (Stephanie) Lessman and Susan Lessman-Murtha; and later by grandchildren Jessica, Andrew, Elizabeth, Catherine, Sarah, Kylie, Shelby and Luke; and great grandchildren Liam and Hannah.

Though she worked as a secretary in Monmouth County for Cablevision for 16 years, Shirley found her real calling as a mom, grandmom and great grandmom. She cooked with the best of them. Her stuffed cabbage and stuffed peppers drew rave reviews. She liked to sing, usually doing karaoke in Florida; and sang a duet with her husband in a local play held at the Stratton School in 2009. She was a member of a singing group, The Silvertones, who entertained residents of assisted living facilities in the local area. It was just part of her creative side which included doing ceramics with her kids. She enjoyed various card games including Cribbage, Pinochle, Card Bingo and Poker. Relaxing times found her with a book in her hand, a voracious reader usually making her way through a romance novel. And she experienced most of the country, travelling about in her motor home. Shirley was also a long-time member of the local seniors’ group, Aged to Perfection. If her T.V. was on, she’d be watching Jeopardy, Wheel of Fortune or perhaps, the Antiques Road Show. Shirley and Tony lived in Jackson for 40 years before moving to Woolwich in 2006.

Come celebrate 85 great years Saturday, December 7, 10 a.m. to noon at Daley Life Celebration Studio, 1518 Kings Highway, Swedesboro where there will be a noon Memorial Service. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations in her memory to The Alzheimer’s Association, www.alz.org.