Shirley Mae Cleveland-Montgomery

Obituary

Obituaries | The Tube City Almanac | February 19, 2020

Shirley Mae Cleveland-Montgomery, 84, died Feb. 14, 2020 in McKeesport. She was born Dec. 24, 1935, in Pittsburgh to Katherine Cleveland (Herrer) and Odell Cleveland. She spent her childhood years growing up on Hosier Street in Homestead as well as on the family farm in Homeville with her brothers Odell & Calvin Cleveland.

She always talked about her family horse “Harry”. Harry was in charge of farm chores as well as giving the children rides around the farm. She also had a pet pig but learned quickly that pigs are not pets. Thanksgiving that year was a sad affair.

Through the years, she resided in several places Chicago, IL., Homewood, PA, East Liberty, PA, but returned to Homestead, PA. She worked several manufacturing jobs while in Chicago before returning to Homestead to help her brother Calvin run the family-owned bar, “Cleveland Grill.”

She enjoyed being a barmaid as it gave her the opportunity to create lasting friendships with people from Homestead and the surrounding communities.

Once the bar closed, she went into the Nursing Field. Her first nursing job was working for her Aunt Susie at her private nursing home in Wilkinsburg, PA. She then moved on to the Jewish Nursing Home where she began her career at the home as a nurse’s aide but transferred to the physical therapy section where she remained until retirement. She created a lifetime bond with the people she worked with due to her nurturing and caring soul. That connection is what made her devote over 20 years to the home.

She had a huge heart. She opened her home to many as she felt “you never turn your back on anyone that God has placed in your path for a season or lifetime”. She loved to visit with anyone and everyone. As grandma, auntie, or Ms. Shirley, she believed she was the rock of the family and her family knew this as well. She never hesitated to provide guidance or help to anyone in need.

Her greatest joy in life was family. She loved what she called “Grandma Duty”. This was her chance to take the kids on a crazy adventurous bus ride to go shopping. There was always a good story from those adventures, “Grandma could go from zero to a hundred quick”. These shopping trips later developed to Dollar Store adventures. Grandma’s purse was always available and happy for these trips. She loved girl time. All the girls would sleep in the room with grandma and have “Girl Talk”.

Her favorite hobbies were reading the Bible, crossword puzzles, watching soap operas, her favorite was Young & Restless, and of course dog sitting her partner in crime Baby Girl.

Shirley leaves to cherish her memory, her brother Calvin Cleveland; children Larry, Terry and Emanuel Cleveland, daughter-in-law, Courtney Cleveland; grandchildren Larry Jr, Joshua, Pooh, Tarikia, LaKeisha, Christopher, Cheyenne, Sydney, Marcus, Malcolm, Joshua, Emanuel Jr., and Gabrielle. She has a large group of loving nieces, nephews, cousins, friends and extended family in Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Nebraska.

Visitation
4 to 8 p.m. Feb. 21
9 a.m. to 12 noon Feb. 22
Tunie Funeral Home, Inc.
218 E. 11th Ave.
Homestead, PA, 15120
http://www.tuniefuneralhome.com/Default.aspx

Service
12 noon Feb. 22
Tunie Funeral Home, Inc.
218 E. 11th Ave.
Homestead, PA, 15120

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Originally published February 19, 2020.

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