Monica Shoffner

July 11, 1917 - August 6, 2020

The daughter of Peter and Anna Paluski, Monica was born in Centralia, IL. Monica, a Centralia High School graduate, wrapped candy bars for Hollywood Candy Company in Centralia. Monica met Ivan Shoffner, from Oklahoma when he was working for Shell Oil Company in Illinois. The two married in 1940. Robert Laverne, was born in October 1942 in Mount Vernon, IL. Ivan Thomas was born in September 1951 in McLeansboro, IL, died as the eye of Hurricane Isaac passed over Houma, La, in August 2012. During WWII, Ivan served in New Caledonia east of Australia, as a US Army Tech-Sgt, Petroleum Specialist. Honorably discharged, Ivan returned to work for Shell Oil Company in Mt. Carmel, IL. While Ivan was deployed, Monica and “Bobby” moved in with her parents, who immigrated from Vilnius, Lithuania, they spoke Lithuanian, “Bobby” learned Lithuanian, speaking it until he entered school. A first-generation Lithuanian-American, Monica, along with Ivan reared their two sons. Ivan worked in the oilfield which meant the family was transferred occasionally. Monica’s sewing skills allowed her to make most all of her own outfits, and her boys shirts, sports jackets and pajamas until they graduated high school, and happily made Stephanie, Christopher and Natalie’s clothes until they were out of grade school. The family transferred from Mt. Carmel, IL to Ardmore, OK and finally to Elk City, OK. Moving landed the family in Catholic Archdiocese of Oklahoma City in 1955, Monica, a cradle Catholic, enjoyed being a Catholic school volunteer. In 1972, she and Ivan moved to Edmond and joined the Parish of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, helping with funeral dinners, parish picnics, Total Youth Ministry retreats, supporting TYM even when they were away from the parish campus. After Ivan died Monica moved into Copperlake Independent Living, rebranded as Lyndale Lifestyles community in Edmond, Monica eventually moved into their Assisted Living facility. Monica earned the Edmond Medical Center Auxiliary Volunteer Emerita Award recognizing 5,638 hours of service from 1986 to 2003. Monica’s family loved and cherished her! She was a great cook, housekeeper, who liked arts and crafts. She enjoyed playing games, Bridge, pinochle, dominoes, canasta, Skip-Bo, Yahtzee, board games, crossword puzzles, reading and praying the Rosary. Robert married Sharon Logan of Mayfield, OK. Tom married Christine Sparks of Canute, OK. They had two daughters Rebecca and Amanda, both died in infancy. Tom’s second marriage was to Rena Babin of Houma, LA. Monica is survived by Robert and Sharon, his wife. Their children: Stephanie married Kirk Stites of Sallisaw, OK, live in Van Buren, AR.; Christopher married Emily Lipscomb of Edmond, OK; Natalie married Christopher King of Halifax, VA; Lacy Babin married Ryan Smith of Houma, LA live with their son Miles Smith; Sergeant Alex Shoffner is a member of the U.S. Army. Great-grandchildren: Drew and twin Gabriella King, Colette and Haley King live with their parents in Parker, TX, Morgan Stites married Michael Mason of Katy, TX, they live in Edmond, OK, Alec Stites lives in Lafayette, LA, Sarah Shoffner and Ty Shoffner are with their parents in Edmond, OK, Monica is pre-deceased by her parents, her husband, a brother Alphonse and his wife Betty, granddaughters Jennifer Shoffner, Rebecca Shoffner, Amanda Shoffner and great-grandson Logan Shoffner. At the time of her death, Monica resided at St. Ann’s Home, Oklahoma City, OK. Mother was proud and grateful to have lived more than 103 years, near and dear to her family. Remembrance donations can be made to CureTBM, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, C/O Jennifer Champy, 128 Pennsylvania Court, Chapin, SC 29036, CureTBM.org. A funeral mass, followed by Burial at Memorial Gardens Cemetery will be announced as pandemic conditions allow.