Shirley Wert's Obituary
Shirley Pettinger Wert of Largo, Florida, passed away peacefully November 6, 2019 after a battle with cancer. She was born in Plattsburgh NY to Ethel and Leslie Pettinger, the youngest of four children. She is survived by her loving husband of 23 years Robert Wert, and adoring nieces and nephews: Leslie Knaup (Gerald), Barbara Matthews (Edwards Reed), Dan Matthews (Janice), Steve Matthews, Anne Marie Denton (Bill) , Gail Pettinger, Doris Pettinger, John Pettinger (Carol), Dick Pettinger and Carol Pettinger (Lyman). She is preceded in death by her parents Ethel and Leslie Pettinger, her husband Joseph Thiel, her sisters Beatrice Lytle and Theresa Matthews, her brother John Pettinger, and her niece Betty Jean Wimett (John).
Shirley graduated from Albany High School, Albany NY, and pursued a varied career in administration and secretarial work. She retired from Harlem State Hospital, Harlem Valley NY and moved to Tallahassee, FL. Upon the death of her husband Joseph Thiel, she relocated to Alexandria, Va where she met and married her husband Robert (Bob) Wert. She worked for a number of years at Bruner Kane in Alexandria, Va. Bob and Shirley retired to Largo Florida and enjoyed a happy retirement. She was active at St. Catherine of Siena serving as a greeter and Eucharistic Minister. Our gentle, loving, sweet Shirley loved her cats, crochet, needlework, reading, crosswords and puzzles. She radiated her joy in life and had many friends that she met through her church, neighborhoods and various jobs. We will never forget her beautiful smile and the love that she shared with us all. A funeral mass will be held at St. Catherine of Siena, 1955 S. Belcher Rd. Clearwater, FL on Wednesday November 20 at 10:00 am.
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