Thursday, March 28, 2024

Obituary of Shirley R. Hockenberry , 76

Name of Deceased Shirley R. Hockenberry
Age 76
Date of Death 05/20/2010
Date of Birth 07/23/1933
Funeral Home Mark D. Heintzelman Funeral Service

Shirley “Shirl” Lou Ripka Hockenberry – July 23, 1933 – May 20, 2010. Shirley R. Hockenberry, 76, of Bellefonte, beloved wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, passed away peacefully at her home surrounded by her loving family on Thursday, May 20, 2010.

She was of the Catholic faith. Born on July 23, 1933, she is the daughter of the late Carl Franklin Ripka and Grace Confer Ripka. On June 13, 1953, she married Malcolm F. "Mac" Hockenberry and celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in June, 2003. They have been married for almost 57 years.

Shirl was a graduate of the State College High School, Class of 1951. Her family was her greatest joy in life. She enjoyed cooking and hosting big family dinners. She also enjoyed shopping with her daughters, working in her flowerbeds and reading Danielle Steele novels. Even after she suffered a stroke six years ago she was able to sing her favorite songs – words and all at perfect pitch. Shirl was proud to say she was a State College native and loved to recount stories from her childhood when they would play in the fields surrounding Penn State campus and play in the halls of Old Main. Her family home was on the corner of McAllister Street and Calder Alley where the M&T building stands today. Every time she would travel through State College in recent years she couldn’t believe how much it changed from year to year.

As a teenager she worked at the Rea and Derrick soda fountain and later as a meat cutter at the Weis Market and a sales clerk at McClanahan Drug Store on Allen Street. She and Mac also owned and operated the Lime Dust Inn from 1979 through 1981. She met her husband, Mac, from Bellefonte, at the Colosseum Skating Rink located where W.E. Esber is today. Mac and Shirl's first home was on Pike Street in Lemont. They moved to Bellefonte when Mac’s father died to be close to his mother. Shirl suffered a severe stroke in October, 2003, and was disabled the last 6 years of her life. Mac was her tireless caregiver, along with her daughter Nancy, and the assistance of her beloved caregivers Debbie Tressler, and Ruth Bernhardt. We would also like to thank all of the people from the Home Nursing Agency who did an excellent job in caring for her and comforting her family through this difficult time.

Shirl is survived by her husband, Mac, her children Lorna (David) Spearly, Nancy (Terry) Schwab, and Kevin Hockenberry. Along with her children she is survived by her grandchildren Shawna, Ashley and Joshua Schwab and Jennifer Wehmeier; Mandy and Maddi Spearly, and KJ and Katlynn Hockenberry; and great grandchildren Camri Foster, Kaden Schwab and Carson Redmond. She will be terribly missed by her husband, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Shirl is survived by one brother, Merill Dean (Lucille) Ripka, of State College and a half-brother, Carl Franklin, Jr., of Boalsburg; two half-sisters, Celia Hockenberry of Milesburg and Carolyn Moyer of Boalsburg, three brother in laws, Carl Fornicola, Carl Eisenocher, and Gerald Fowler; and also many nieces and nephews and her closest friend Myrna Alterio. She joins her first child in heaven, Craig, who was born in 1954. He was born with Down’s Syndrome and died two days before his first birthday on November 12, 1955. The doctors had told her that he was expected to die shortly after birth, but she proved them wrong with her tireless care of him. His death was a lifelong sorrow. She was also preceded in death by four sisters, Lorna Fornicola (her best friend), Nancy Eisenocher, Joyce (Charles) Osman, Leona Fowler, and a brother Cyrus Ripka.

There will be a public visitation held Sunday, May 23, 2010 from 6 pm to 9 pm, at Mark D. Heintzelman Funeral and Cremation Services, 1034 Benner Pike, State College. Funeral Services will be held from the funeral home, Monday, May 24, 2010, beginning at 2 p.m. Burial will be held immediately after the service at the Centre County Memorial Park in College Township – her beloved State College. Memorial contributions can be made to the Home Nursing Agency.

A guest book can be signed and condolences sent to the family at www.heintzelmanfuneralhome.com