Shirley V. (Grammaw) Santilli, 85, passed away on Thursday, November 14, 2019 in her home in
Shoemakersville. She was born June 6, 1934 in Mohrsville daughter of the late Edmund and Virginia
(Kauffman) Einsel. She was a 1952 graduate of Perry High School in Shoemakersville.
She was the wife of John T. Santilli to whom she was married for 66 years. In addition to her husband,
Shirley is also survived by her daughters, Robin L. Santilli, Lorrie (Santilli) Wolfinger, wife of Thomas W.
Wolfinger, Lizabeth V. (Santillit) Kozloski, and son-in-law, Michael T. Kozloski.
John and Shirley have six grandchildren, Andrew M. Kozloski, Matthew J. Kozloski, Nathan M. Kozloski,
Seth T. Wolfinger, husband of Andrea (Ehrenfeld), Sara (Wolfinger) Parry, wife of Jeremiah Parry, and
Hannah (Wolfinger) Cuzzupe, wife of Marc Cuzzupe. She is also survived by six great-grandchildren,
Tavian and Torrin Parry, Julia and Natalie Wolfinger, and Grant and Edison Cuzzupe.
Although Shirley was an only child, she was thrilled to join the big Santilli family loving her second
parents and all of her new brothers and sisters. She treasured all of the children in her life. She was a
feisty, fun-loving Grammaw to many. Everyone became family when they met Shirley and Johnny.
As her daughters grew-up she was deeply involved in the community as a Bluebird and Campfire Girl
leader. She helped to plan the annual Children’s Fair as a member of the Shoemakersville Recreation
Board. Shirley was in the Perry Elementary PTA. She was a member of the Hamburg Area School Board
for nearly 20 years, serving as the President in 1984-85. She was the secretary for her husband John’s
company, San-Tool, Inc. for 38 years. She was a member of the St. Timothy’s choir and Church Council,
taught Sunday school, and served on the Birch Hill Cemetery Board. Shirley was a eucharistic minister
for St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church regularly visiting patients in the Laurel Nursing Home. Shirley is
the author of a children’s book, Trouble in Treeville, written in 1967, published in 2013.
Shirley spent many years helping those less fortunate or in need of assistance. Everyone would be
welcomed to a smile when encountering Shirley. Shirley loved to cross stitch, knit, and crochet. Friends
and family can look around their homes to easily find a token of her handiwork.
Grammaw Santilli led a full life, nurturing others to always be kind to one another. In 1984, Shirley
received the Service Above Self Award from the Shoemakersville/Leesport Rotary, and in 2000, the
Friends of Education award from the Hamburg Area Education Association.
The Santilli family is extremely appreciative of the numerous caregivers that supported Shirley with
respect, dignity, and compassion during the final years and days of her life.
Family and friends may extend their sympathy to the family at a viewing on Monday, November 18,
2019 at the Leibensperger Funeral Homes, Inc., 223 Peach Street, Leesport from 6 pm to 8 pm. On
Tuesday, November 19, 2019, a Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 am at St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church, 94
Walnut Road, Hamburg with viewing prior to the service from 9:30 am to 10:45 am.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Salvation Army Hamburg Service Center, 700 S. Fourth
Street #C Hamburg, PA, 19526 or Mary’s Shelter, 615 Kenhorst Boulevard, Reading, PA, 19611. Leibensperger Funeral Homes, Inc., Leesport,
is in charge of arrangements. For online condolences, please visit, www.leibenspergerfuneralhomes.com.