Shirley Nelson Lodal

Shirley Ann Nelson Lodal, 87, of Hendersonville, NC, passed away on Monday, July 6, 2015 at her home after a period of declining health.

Shirley was born on February 22, 1928 in Chicago, Illinois, the only child of the late Clarence E. and Esther E. Peterson Nelson. She was also preceded in death by her husband, Norman;and a daughter, Claire Ellen Lodal Wilson, of Ripton, VT.

After graduating from the University of Wisconsin with an Associate of Science degree in Medical Technology, Shirley returned to Chicago, where she married Norman Lodal in October of 1948. Shirley worked as a medical technologist and blood bank technician in various locations, including the Northern Illinois Blood Bank in Rockford, IL and the Northwestern University Health Center in Evanston, IL. After raising four children, Shirley went back to college and received a Bachelor of Science degree in Early Childhood Development from Northeastern Illinois University in 1977. She worked as a school administrator in Lincolnwood, IL until her retirement and move to North Carolina in 1988. Shirley enjoyed travel, needlework, sewing, reading, and music.

She is survived by her daughter, Beth Ann Lodal and husband, Gene Pokorny, of Chicago, IL; her son, Peter Nelson Lodal and wife, Susan, of Kingsport, TN; and her son, John Norman Lodal and wife, Pamela, of Boise, Idaho. She is also survived by seven grandchildren, Benjamin Wilson and wife Trina of Middlebury, VT; Erik Lodal and wife Tamara Bruce of Gaithersburg, MD; Nicholas Lodal and wife Robin of Georgetown, KY; Genevieve Lodal of Westfield, VT; Peter Wilson of Jacksonville, FL; Geoffrey Lodal and wife Christine, of Boise, ID; Jessica Lodal of Lombard, IL. Shirley had eleven great-grandchildren.

A Celebration of Life service will be held at The Village Hall of Carolina Village, 600 Carolina Village Road, Hendersonville, NC on Sunday August 2, 2015 from 3-5 PM. A family interment service will be held at Grace Lutheran Church in Hendersonville, NC at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Four Seasons Hospice, 571 S Allen Rd, Flat Rock, NC 28731; The Idaho Food Bank, 3562 South TK Avenue, Boise, ID 83705-5278; The Vermont Foodbank, 33 Parker Road, Barre, VT 05641; or the Waverly Road Presbyterian Church Food Pantry, 1415 Waverly Road, Kingsport, TN 37664.