Muriel Shea Glarner

On Friday, August 21, 2020, Muriel Shea Glarner, Proud Irish Woman, loving mother to six, grandmother to 12 and great-grandmother of soon-to-be 6, passed away at the age of 96. Muriel, ("Mu", later "Grammu"), was born on August 2, 1924 to Harold and Lillian (Ritter) Shea at home in West New York, NJ. As her parents each died at an early age, she and Harold, her older brother, were raised by Grandparents Martin and Annie Shea and Aunt Mae Shea in Dumont, NJ where she lived for almost 20 years. After high graduation, she went to work in New York City at AT&T headquarters, where she became the First Woman Draftperson in the company.

On May 29, 1948, Muriel married the handsome boy across the street, Herbert B Glarner. They soon found themselves living the American Dream in Nanuet, NY, and raising four kids (2 boys/2 girls) within 6 years. They were both very active in the Nanuet Volunteer Ambulance Corp. and the Woman's Auxillary.

But in 1961, the warmer climes called. They bought a house and moved to Fort Lauderdale, FL. There they added two more daughters, making the 'Glarner Gang 6'. Raising the children and homemaking came naturally to Muriel, she had great organizational skills. She loved to sew and cook and bake wonderful desserts. She picked up gardening from her Grandpa Shea, who had the Irish Green Thumb. So her gardens were always lovely. She crocheted, knitted, stitched and crafted. Creative! Her love of animals was passed onto her kids. There were always pets in the home- Even a squirrel monkey for a few years.

In 1990, with Glarner Gang all married and scattered, Muriel and Herb (now retired police officer), moved to Ft. Pierce (On Golden Ponds). Where they lived a quiet, happy life. Sadly, Herb was diagnosed with cancer and shortly passed away in January 1992. Muriel pushed on, enjoying another 28 years, continuing their shared love of traveling. Her proudest accomplishment was climbing the Dunns River Falls in Jamaica, while cruising with most of her family for her 80th birthday!

Her first son, Terrence Shea Glarner sadly, bravely fought cancer and died on July 1, 2013. Muriel leaves behind to pass on her loving memory: Terry's widow Barbara Glarner (sons: Andrew, Sean T. (Kat), daughter: Casey); one living son: David Glarner (Mary, daughters: Cheryl Riggs (Scott), Jenna Tripp (Michael), son: Blake Joslyn (Holly); four daughters: Penny Lalacona (John, sons Christopher (Jennie), Jason (Mary)); Judith Valdes (Heberto, daughters Sara Perhealth (Jason) and Sabrina Frizbee (Joshua)); Heide Prell (John, daughters: Jenni Kryouac (Chris), Holly Joslyn (Blake), son: C.J. (Caitlin); Tracey Dougherty (son, Brian). GREAT grandchildren: Landon, Wyatt, and Daphne Perhealth, Henry Knox Lalacona, plus two more on the way. Muriel also leaves nephew Tim and Angela Shea (and family) and niece Ruth "Sis" Mascera (and family) on her Shea side. The Glarners nieces and nephews, et al, are really too numerous to mention, but she loved them all!

We will love Murial, Ma, Mom, Grammu, Aunt Muriel forever in our hearts and memories...

A limb has fallen from the family tree, I keep hearing a voice that says: GRIEVE NOT FOR ME. Remember the best times, the laughter, the song. The good life I lived while I was strong.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations made in Muriel Shea Glarners name to: Legacy Hospice House, 9505 SW 110th Street, Ocala, Florida 34481.