Louise M. Willeman, 87, of Lebanon, passed away gently in her sleep on Saturday, Nov. 21, 2020, at Conestoga View Nursing Home. She was the wife of the late William P. Willeman. Born in Lebanon on Aug. 25, 1933, Louise was the daughter of the late Louis N. and Ellen A. (Brenneman) Ceresini.
She was a faithful member of the Church of St. Cecilia and a graduate of Lebanon Catholic High School’s Class of 1951. Louise worked as a manager at the former Red Barn in Lebanon while helping her father, “Louis the Tailor,” for many years until his passing in 1977. Later, Louise worked as a candy maker for Van Winkles in Lebanon until the age of 82. As a child, she enjoyed playing with paper dolls and, most recently, often cut poems and pictures from magazines to share with family and friends. Louise enjoyed listening to music and dancing. To Louise, family was everything. She was compassionate, kindhearted, and selfless. Louise had a great sense of humor and loved to laugh. Her legacy of kindness was an inspiration to those around her. Louise never spoke an unkind word, she was the world’s best secret keeper, and welcomed anyone and everyone into her home.
Louise is survived by three children – Ann Marie Shaner, Renee T. Willeman, and Michael H. Willeman, and his wife, Pam; four grandchildren – Erika Silko, and her partner, Chad, Kristin Barker, and her husband, Jeff, David Sheller, and his wife, Julie, and Louis Willeman; four great-grandchildren, Korbin, and his wife, Hollie, Nicholas, and his wife, Emily, Devan, and her husband, Jeremiah, and Matthew; a brother, John Ceresini, Sr., and his wife, Joyce; a sister, Mary Ann Fox, and her husband, Raymond; and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by a grandson, Brian Gabriel Sheller, and a brother, Louis N. Ceresini, Jr.
Funeral services will be held privately. Interment will be at Holy Cross Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations in Louise’s name may be made to Easter Seals, 2550 Kingston Rd., East York, PA 17402, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105, or Cerebral Palsy, 1513 N. Cameron St., Harrisburg, PA 17103. Thompson Funeral Home, Inc. has been entrusted with the arrangements. Please share your memories with the family at our online guest book at thompsonfuneralhomelebanon.com
