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Allison Jo Shipley

Obituaries | The Tube City Almanac | April 23, 2022

Allison Jo Shipley, age 56 of White Oak, passed away Friday, April 22, 2022 at home with her family by her side. It would be wrong to say that Allison lost her battle with breast cancer, because there was not one moment she stopped fighting. She courageously and gracefully accepted the challenges of her illness-with no complaints, just an unparalleled strength all her own.

Born on July 16, 1965, Allison was raised by her loving parents, Harry “Nick” and Christine (Bach) Manning. In childhood and adulthood, she was surrounded by their care, and the constant admiration and affection of her siblings. After graduating from Norwin High school in 1983, Allison studied commercial art at the Art Institute of Pittsburgh; however, when professional opportunities arose in larger cities, she chose not to pursue a career away from home. Motherhood brought her two sons, Nicholas and Dylan, and she devoted herself to her boys wholeheartedly.

In 1999, when Allison married her husband John, she found her true love and partner, and her sons found an incredible father. While Allison and John were beginning their life and building their home together, she worked at the City-County Building in Pittsburgh in the Division of Marriage Licenses, Orphans Court, the Register of Wills; and she was later employed at Continental Building Company in Homestead. Once Allison received her cancer diagnosis in 2008, she was able to stay at home where she managed her husband’s remodeling business.

Allison’s truest passions were cooking special meals, entertaining guests, keeping a beautifully decorated home and yard, planning family parties and vacations, riding on their motorcycle, and giving generously of herself to others. ln fact, after visiting Medjugorje in Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2008, she founded Medjugorje Calls You – a non-profit charity that provided material and spiritual sustenance to impoverished families on the fringes of society in Medjugorje – alongside Fr. Bill Kiel and other cherished friends she met during her pilgrimages to the Holy Apparition village.

Allison’s life was never defined by her illness, and it cannot be captured in words how fully and selflessly she lived each and every day. Being a daughter, sister, wife, mother, godmother, and “Auntie” gave her the purest joy. ln everything that Allison did, she always displayed her heart, brilliant creativity, and deep thoughtfulness, and she will forever be an irreplaceable source of love and light in the lives of her relatives and friends. Her unshakeable faith and hope, unrelenting fight and unconditional love inspired so many, and her presence will be missed beyond measure.

She is preceded in death by her father Harry “Nick” Manning and is survived by her mother Christine (Bach) Manning; her mother-in-law Donna Shipley; her husband John Shipley; her sons Nicholas (James) Manning and Dylan Manning; her siblings Joey (Shelly) Manning, Timmy (Debbie) Manning, Terry (Ggee) Manning, Jen Carper, Nick (Jodi) Manning, Gina Reihart, Tony Perri, Angela Furno, Nila Manning, and Lorraine Shipley. She also leaves behind many dear aunts, uncles, cousins, nephews, nieces, great nephews, and great nieces-whose lives she preciously touched.

A Memorial of Life service and reception will take place at Calvary Episcopal Church, 315 Shady Ave., Shadyside, PIttsburgh, PA 15206 on Saturday, April 30, 2022 at 1 PM. All are invited to attend to celebrate and honor Allison’s life. Arrangements by the Daniel F. Bekavac Funeral Home and Crematory, 4504 Walnut St., Versailles Borough, McKeesport, PA 15132 (413-678-3454) www.bekavacfuneralhome.com

Originally published April 23, 2022.

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