Erma Jeanne Mellinger Shirk

Erma Jeanne Mellinger Shirk, 75, of Goshen and formerly of Thornton, Pennsylvania, passed away at her home late Saturday night, August 4, 2012. She was born May 13, 1937 in Lyndon, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, to the late Jacob K. Mellinger and Bertha Denlinger Leaman Mellinger Hershey. She married Enos Huber Shirk January 1, 1960 in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. He preceded her in death February 5, 2012. She is survived by three daughters, Juanita (Monroe) Weber-Shirk of Ithaca, New York, Jeanne (William) Sahawneh of Hoover, Alabama, and Jacalyn Shirk Lee of Luray, Virginia; a son, Steven (Cheryl) Hochstetler Shirk of Goshen; 11 grandchildren; a brother, Harold (Lucy) Mellinger and two sisters, Lois Mellinger and Martha (Willard) Martin. She was preceded in death by a son, John Jacob Shirk, October 18, 1979, and a sister, Ellene Myer. A Goshen resident since June 2011, she was a member of Bethlehem United Methodist Church, Thornton, and was attending East Goshen Mennonite Church. She had worked as a nurse at Elwyn Institutes, Elwyn, Pennsylvania and at Lancaster General Hospital. Friends may call 5 to 6 p.m., Monday, August 6, 2012, at East Goshen Mennonite Church where a 6 p.m. memorial service will be conducted. Pastors Steve Slagel and Merle Hostetler will officiate. Friends may call from 4 until the 6 p.m., memorial service Wednesday, August 8, 2012 and then again after the service until 8 p.m., at the Bethlehem United Methodist Church, Thornton, Pennsylvania. Private burial will be in the Bethlehem United Methodist Church Cemetery, Thornton. Memorial contributions may be given to Mennonite Central Committee, Eastern Mennonite Missions, or Goshen Center for Cancer Care.