Shirley Soltes

SHIRLEY SOLTES (nee Wacko) age 81, beloved wife for 59 years of William; loving mother of Karen Backus (husband Kent), Patricia Kelleher (husband Kevin), William, Michael (wife Amy), and Mary Kay Bruner (husband Bradley); devoted grandmother of Erin Roberts (husband Tracy), Kelsey and Connor Kelleher, Anna, Nathan, and Adam Soltes, Katherine Bruner and great-grandmother of Riley; cherished daughter of the late Harry and Celia (nee Tunder) Wacko; dearest sister of Carol, Lucy, and Harriet; dear aunt and great-aunt of many.

Shirley was born on July 7, 1938 and passed away on July 10, 2019. She was born and raised in Cleveland and was a 1956 graduate of Marymount High School. In 1960 she married William Soltes. She was a homemaker most of her life caring for her 5 children. In 1969, the family moved to Richmond Heights and Shirley became an active member of St. Paschal Baylon Catholic Church. She served on many committees over her 50 years as a parishioner. Catholic School education was very important to her and all her children attended Catholic Schools. She loved participating in sports and created and coached the first Girls CYO Program at St. Paschal Baylon.

Among many civic issues Shirley was passionate about was the unborn. She worked tirelessly for Cleveland Right to Life to educate the youth of its importance. She served on the board, ran the Right to Life Thrift Store in Bedford and created and ran the Cleveland Right to Life Art and Essay Contest for many years.

Shirley also enjoyed gardening, history, politics, bicycle riding, dancing to polka’s and singing. She was kind, loving, inquisitive, compassionate, and faithful to God and her family. Her husband William always said she had a heart of gold. Most of all, Shirley enjoyed being a mother, not just to her own children, but to many others. She will be dearly missed by all.

Contributions may be made in memory of Shirley to St. Paschal Baylon Catholic Church or Ohio Right to Life at https://www.ohiolife.org/donate_form. Mass of Christian Burial Monday, July 15, 2019 at 10:30 AM at St. Paschal Baylon Catholic Church, 5384 Wilson Mills Rd., Highland Heights, OH 44143. Entombment following at All Souls Cemetery. Family will receive friends to pay tribute to and celebrate the life of Shirley at THE DeJOHN-FLYNN-MYLOTT FUNERAL HOME OF WILLOUGHBY HILLS, 28890 CHARDON ROAD (between Bishop Rd. and Rt. 91) SUNDAY 2-6 PM.