Shirley Lehnert

Shirley M. (McGarry) Lehnert, 85, died Monday, Sept. 1, at home surrounded by love and cradled by her husband of 61 years, Walter P. Lehnert.Born to the late Charles and Gladys (Stewart) McGarry on July 15, 1929 in Cahoes, N.Y., she graduated from Clarks Summit High School in 1947. After graduation, she worked for Scranton Dry Goods and as a dental assistant.Shirley and Walter started raising their children in Clarks Summit and finished the job in Flanders, N.J., where they lived until retiring to the Poconos in the summer and Florida in the winter. They opted for full-time Florida living a couple of years ago. She was a member of Our Lady of the Snows Church, Clarks Summit, St. Michael's, Netcong, N.J., St. Vincent de Paul Church, Milford, and St. Jude's Church, St. Petersburg, Fla. Always proud of being Irish with smiling blue eyes, Shirley lived her love. Her family meant the world to her and she devoted her entire life to doting on three generations little Lehnerts. She had an awesome sense of humor and her smile was beautiful. Her Florida time presented the problem of no kids to tend so she turned to flowers - she developed quite a green thumb.In addition to her loving husband, she is survived by a son, Charles S. and wife, Luann, Mount Bethel; four daughters, Deborah A. Lehnert, St. Petersburg, Fla.; Joy C. Lehnert, Plano, Texas; Elizabeth M. Lehnert, St. Petersburg, Fla.; and Catherine M. Gardner and husband, Bruce, Port Murray, N.J.; a brother, Richard J. McGarry, Oregon; a sister-in-law, Audrey Kazmierski Lehnert; nine grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; several nieces and nephews and several dozen grandcritters.The funeral will be Saturday with Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. at Our Lady of the Snows Church, 301 S. State St., Clarks Summit, to be celebrated by Monsignor James J. McGarry. Entombment, Glenwood Mausoleum, South Abington Twp. The family will receive relatives and friends Friday from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Jennings-Calvey Funeral and Cremation Service Inc., 111 Colburn Ave., Clarks Summit. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Joseph's Center, 2010 Adams Ave., Scranton, PA 18509, or PARC/Providing Advocacy & Recognizing Capabilities, 3190 Tyrone Boulevard North, St. Petersburg, FL 33710.