Hermia L. Shifflette

Hermia Lourene Shifflette (nee Dixon), age 87, of Bedford, Ohio slipped away on May 29. Beloved spouse of the late James; loving mother of Linda Niro (Gennaro), Laura Beth Boyette (Mark); doting grandmom of Victor Niro (Maria Diaz Martin), Sarah Niro, Alexander Niro, Ryan Boyette, Faith Boyette, and Grace Boyette; dearest sister of the late Eleanor Skronski, Linda Beck, the late Marcella Cobb, the late Jeff Dixon, and Jim Dixon; aunt and great-aunt to a myriad of nieces and nephews; wonderful friend to Robert and Deanna Brewton.

Born in Louisa, Kentucky, Hermia was the second of six children raised in Columbus, Ohio. She spent her summers with her Aunt Irene in Kentucky, where she played hide and seek in the cornfields with her beloved cousins, (to the chagrin of her farmer uncles), cared for the cow who was named in her honor, roamed the hills, and climbed any tree that looked inviting. This is where she honed her lifelong love of nature and her personal relationship with God, as well as the never-ending desire to find the best blackberry patches, no matter how challenging.

Hermia sang in the Columbus girls choir. After graduating from South Urban High School in 1957, she fell in love at first sight with Jim Shifflette through the window of his rental car office during her afternoon walk while on break from her job at Lazarus. One day, Jim surprised her during her routine walk by standing outside the office where he offered her a butterscotch candy. She kept that wrapper for the rest of her life. Jim and Hermia eloped to Los Angeles where they were married in a small Catholic ceremony on November 14, 1959. Hermia drove their brand new 1965 Mustang in stilettos to her job at the bank in Culver City and then her job as a doctors assistant on Venice Beach. After nine years, Hermia and Jim returned to Ohio to raise their growing family on Archer Road in Bedford.

Hermia devoted her life to her children and spent her time volunteering with the schools wherever she saw a need, including PTA president, and was eventually honored as volunteer of the year. She enjoyed expanding her knowledge through courses at Cuyahoga County Community College, and was a voracious reader. Her biggest passion was for her children, and then for her “grands”. Her grandchildren gave her the spark she needed to move forward after she lost her beloved husband of 43 years. She found an outlet for her music passion at the Bedford Falls Café, where she regularly performed with her beautiful singing voice on karaoke nights, and made new friends who felt like family to her until the end of her life. When she moved to the Brookdale Westlake Village, she demonstrated her remarkable resilience by connecting with her new friends who instantly fell in love with her. She enjoyed her village activities where she continued to impress everyone with her glamorous and impeccable fashion sense.

Above all, Hermia possessed an extraordinary loving spirit and deep faith in God. Her infectious smile, witty humor, and her open arms brought people of all ages and walks of life into her orbit where they felt forever cherished.

Relatives and friends will be received at St. John Funeral Home, 923 Broadway Ave., Bedford (ONE MILE WEST OF THE FORBES-BROADWAY EXIT OF I-271), FRIDAY, JUNE 5 from 4-7 PM with a funeral service at 7 P.M. Burial will take place in Louisa, Kentucky at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family suggestions contributions to PBS or the Berea Animal Rescue Fund in loving memory of Hermia: https://www.bereaanimalrescue.com/donate/