Shirley LaVerne Pertile

MERILL, Wis. - Shirley LaVerne Pertile was born April 28, 1941, at her Grandma Coey's home in Pine Lake, Wisconsin, and was the daughter of Fred and Ila Dietel (Coey). She passed away peacefully at the age of 79, with her three daughters by her side on Friday, June 19, 2020 at Good Samaritan Hospital in Merrill.

Shirley lived her entire life in Hurley, and Ironwood, Michigan where she was united in marriage to Raymond Bruno Pertile on Feb. 7, 1959 at St. Ambrose's Parish (currently Our Lady of Peace).

They raised three daughters, Theresa (Charles Sr.) Torosian of Racine, Tammy (Steve) Albert of Merrill, and Tracy (Robert) Beth of Sturtevant. She had five grandchildren, Stefanie, Raymond, CJ, Zach and Sebastian; and nine great-grandchildren, Carter, Reese, Cooper, Parker, Jordan, Ashton, Everlee, Tanner and Emmersyn, all of which were truly one of her greatest accomplishments.

Although all her daughters moved from the area shortly after graduating from high school, they remained close to their parents and made trips frequently to the area to visit them, along with many family members and friends.

She was extremely active in her community and owned and operated Fashion Optical for over 25 years. She was a proud member of the church choir at Our Lady of Peace, where she had been known to bring her "special" cherries to enjoy after midnight mass. She was also one of the first females to become a member of the Ironwood Kiwanis Club, was a member of the Women's Auxiliary and the list goes on and on. Shirley was very proud of her community and contributed whenever and wherever she could.

Surviving her in death are her children and grandchildren; her sister, Darlene (Dennis) Pertile of Ironwood; brother, Fred (Laura) Dietel of Racine; stepmother, Virginia "great-grandma Jinx" Dietel of Racine; partner and best friend, George Bergquist, along with many loving godchildren, nieces, nephews and too many friends to count.

Preceded in death were her husband, Raymond of 48 years; newborn son, Raymond Arthur; parents, Fred and Ila Dietel; paternal parents, Bruno and Elsie Pertile; sisters, Patricia Fink and Diane Tusa-Moravec.

Theresa, Tammy and Tracy would like to especially thank Debra at Woodland Court, along with all the compassionate, loving and caring nurses, assistants and hospice staff at Ascension Good Samaritan in Merrill, Wisconsin for their strength and guidance during her final days, also a very extra special thank you to Sue, the Chaplin at Good Sam's for her visits and prayers.

A Mass of Christian Burial for Shirley will be held on Thursday, July 9, at 11 a.m. at Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church, 108 S Marquette Street, Ironwood, Michigan. Father Binu Joseph will preside. Visitation will be held at the church in the St. Joseph Family Room from 10 a.m. until 11 a.m. Rite of committal and interment will follow at the Riverside Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, Theresa, Tammy and Tracy would like you to make donations to Our Lady of Peace, The Ironwood Depot, Ironwood High School Scholarship Fund or the Ironwood Historical Society, all of which were a few of Shirley's favorite charities.

Waid Funeral Home and Cremation Service of Merrill is assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences are encouraged and may be made at waidfuneral.com.