Shirley Jean (Page) Piethe, age 88, passed away Friday, April 17, 2015, at her home in Mill Creek, WA. She was born on November 10, 1926, in North East, PA, daughter of the late Russell Page and Ida (Ott) Page.
Shirley is survived by her loving husband, Carl, of 67 years, and their four children: Lynda Riekels (Bruce), Christine Kieso (Robert Orth), Ronald Piethe (Sara), and Annette Vahratian (Arthur), one sister, Dorothy Manley, two brothers, Raymond Page (Alice), and Robert Page (Rhonda), ten grandchildren: Ryan Riekels (Rachel), Robyn Ostrander (Anthony), Carlene Kieso, Gregory Kieso, Mark Kieso, Brian Piethe (Lindsay), Mark Piethe (Lindsey), Kristie Piethe, Alyssa Vahratian and Audrey Vahratian, three great grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by three sisters, Ruth Helffrich, Genevieve Maynard, and Virginia Adams.
After graduating from North East High School, Shirley obtained her Registered 
Nursing degree while also serving in the U.S. Nurse Cadet Corps. Subsequently she worked as an RN at Hamot Women’s Hospital (Erie, PA), Highland and Sinai Hospital (Detroit, MI), and later at Presbyterian Village (Redford, MI) as the Director of Nursing, spanning a total of more than 40 years as a dedicated health care professional. Shirley was awarded Michigan State Nurse of the Year in 1989 for her innovative contributions to geriatric nursing.
Shirley was a kind and gentle soul with an independent and passionate spirit. Shirley had many hobbies – she loved to read, was an avid gardener, exceptional baker, expert embroiderer, and was a friend to many hummingbirds. She shared her extensive life experiences and her deeply felt sense of tradition with her family.
A memorial service will be held in Shirley’s honor at Mill Creek Community Church on April 25, 2015, where she was a member. In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to the American Cancer Society or Mill Creek Community Church (Mill Creek, WA).