Shirley Lipa

Rita Shirley Lipa died peacefully at Ben Atchley Veterans Home in Knoxville, Tennessee, on November 9, 2020. She was 97 years old.

Shirley was born in Cincinnati, Ohio on December 8, 1922, the daughter of Albert E. and Marguerite Della (Clark) Northup.

A graduate of Detroit’s Cooley High School in 1941 Shirley attended Wayne State University.

Shirley was introduced to Chester (Chet) Lipa, by her best friend Dorothy Lipa when she was still in high school. Within a few years, they were engaged and married in June of 1943. Chet enlisted in the Marine Corps shortly after their wedding and was deployed to the Pacific theater of World War II.

Shirley went to work for the Michigan Bell Telephone Company where she worked until Chet returned home from the war.

After the war, Shirley and Chet lived in Detroit, Traverse City, Flint and Redford Township while they began raising their children. They eventually made their home in Northville, Michigan where they would spend the majority of their lives. Shirley went back to work at the Michigan Bell Telephone Company at age 43 and retired with over 20 years of service. Shirley was a charter member of the Northville Mothers Club and a prominent member of the First Presbyterian Church of Northville, serving on many committees.  Shirley enjoyed gardening, sewing, spending time with her family and playing bridge. She was a sought-after partner in the Northville bridge community and prided herself on hosting lively get-togethers with friends. Shirley and Chet were founding members of a gourmet dinner club that met regularly for many years.

In 2013, Shirley moved to Tennessee to an assisted living care center.

Shirley is predeceased by her loving husband of 56 years, Chet, her infant son, Michael, her parents Albert and Marguerite Northup and her younger brother, John Northup.

Shirley’s surviving family include: four children; Mark Lipa, Carol (Jamie) Jameson, Marcia (Doug) Swiss and Janet Goode, nine grandchildren and eight great grandchildren.

A Service of Remembrance will be held Saturday, October 16, 2021 at 11:30am at The First Presbyterian Church , 200 East Main Street, Northville.