Shirley Ann (Nemmers) Hamilton

Shirley Ann (Nemmers) Hamilton       

Born in Portsmouth, Virginia at the Portsmouth Naval Hospital in 1931, Shirley and her family moved to Iowa and around 1937to her beloved North Carolina where she spent the next 18 years of her life. In 1955, Shirley met the love of her life, Chicagoan, Robert M. Hamilton, who was serving in the Military. After a short few months, they were married in Raleigh, in August of 1955 and moved to Chicago, eventually settling in Oak Park, Illinois in 1968. Their neighborhood in Oak Park, Maple Park and St. Bernardine’s Parish became the center of the universe for raising and nurturing their 11 children. Shirley and Bob were very involved in the church and school, with Shirley volunteering as Minister of Communion and serving on Mother’s and Women’s Clubs for years. Many happy years were spent in Oak Park. There, in 1975, they also experienced the loss of son and brother, John, in a tragic accident.   

In the next phase of her and Bob’s lives, Shirley became mother in-law, grandma, and great grandma to many. She loved the baptisms, communions, birthdays and weekly visits in her home from her new extended families. 

Shirley, herself, came from a large family of nine. While she left her brothers and sisters behind in North Carolina, they remained very important to her throughout her life and she loved them dearly. She maintained relations with them through regular long, long distant phone calls and occasional visits. They all shared a great sense of humor and the ability to tell a story. Throughout her years she often referred to North Carolina as home. 

In later years, Shirley became secretary at St. Bernardine’s Grade School. She felt fortunate and fulfilled to be able to interact with and positively impact many children and their family’s lives. She was much loved by the school community. 

Shirley is known for her faith in God, love of family, sense of duty, a hearty sense of humor, generosity of spirit, having awelcoming home and especially, a joy of life. She made friends easily, amongst neighbors, fellow parishioners and those at work.

She leaves behind her children Mary Griffith (Robert), Catherine O’leary (John), Margaret Barry (Jack), Elizabeth Allabastro (Paul), Robert Hamilton (Bridget), William Hamilton (Gretchen), Peter Hamilton (Laura), Ellen Hamilton (SteveGlinke), Michael Hamilton (Lisa), Matt Hamilton (Jackie), Shirley also leaves behind 31 loving Grand Children and 14 Great Grandchildren. Shirley is survived by her beloved brothers and sisters, Robert Nemmers, Raymond Nemmers, Catherine Booth, Karen Jackson and Michael Nemmers. 

Shirley is preceded in death by her loving husband Robert M. Hamilton (2010), and son John Stephen(1975), her brother Peter Nemmers, her sister Elizabeth De Angelis, and her sister Evelyn Szuchan.

INFO FOR SERVICE

Visitation will take place from 9:30 am to 10:30 am on Saturday, 12/10/22 at St. Bernadine Church, 7246 Harrison, Forest Park Il., 60130. The Funeral Mass will follow immediately at 10:30am.  Interment Queen of Heaven Cemetery.  Info. 708-355-2200 or www.ZimmermanHarnett.com.

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