Shirley Ann Joneli, beloved wife and mother, passed away on Thursday, July 24, 2003 at Home Place Special Care Center in Burlington, WA at the age of 64 years. She was surrounded by family and friends when she ended her five year battle with Alzheimer’s Disease.
She was born February 9, 1939 in Bellingham, WA the daughter of Walter and June Grinton. Shirley was raised in the Bellingham area and there was married to Richard Joneli on August 28, 1959. They have made their home in Sedro-Woolley for the past 44 years.
For many years she worked as a bookkeeper for Dr Mulholland’s Optometry Office and as a cook for the Sedro-Woolley School District. Shirley was a longtime member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church and the Grace Cochram Orthopedic Guild. She also spent many years bowling, dancing with the Skagit Squares and golfing with the Gateway Gals. She also enjoyed camping and traveling, but most of all she enjoyed her grandchildren.
Shirley is survived by her husband Richard of the family home in Sedro-Woolley. Her children, Debbie Allen and her husband Jim and a son Rich Joneli and his wife Lisa all of Sedro-Woolley; 4 grandchildren Russell and Janelle Allen and Ashley and Carley Joneli; Her mother June Grinton of Anacortes; 2 brothers, Jim Grinton of Bellingham and Bill Grinton of Tacoma; 3 sisters, Delores Hardison and her husband Lowell of Torrance, CA, Loretta Scheltens of Bellingham, and Darleen Hulse and her husband Ben of Snohomish. A brother-in-law, Pat York of Port Orchard and a sister-in-law Donna Grinton of Burlington. 2 sisters-in-law, and their spouses Judy & Bernie Schaknowski of Syracuse, NY and Sue & Pat Banzhaf of Federal Way; A sister-in-law, Pam Joneli of Des Moines, WA and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her father Walter Grinton, a brother Jay Grinton and 2 sisters Charolette York and Sharon Grinton.
Private burial services will be held at the Sedro-Woolley Union Cemetery followed by a public Memorial Service on Wednesday, July 30, 2003 at 2:00 PM at Bethlehem Lutheran Church on Wicker Road with Pastor Walter Rice officiating.
Visitation for Shirley will be available daily at Lemley Chapel from 9 AM to 5 PM with the family gathering on Tuesday evening from 6 to 8 PM to greet and visit with friends. Memorials are suggested to Grace Cochram Therapy Guild, the Alzheimer’s Association, or Skagit Hospice.
The family will be forever grateful to the staff at Home Place for the exceptional love and care given to Shirley. They are truly Angels on Earth. Arrangements and Services under the care of Lemley Chapel, Sedro-Woolley. You are invited to share your thoughts and memories of Shirley and sign the online guest book at www.lemleychapel.com.