Elsa Anne Shirk

Elsa Anne, 100, of Cincinnati, died Monday October 8th, 2012. Elsa was born in St. Bernard to the late Lena and August Kathman on June 17, 1912. She attended Cincinnati YMCA Business School, and later worked at Armstrong Cork Company before dedicating her life to family and motherhood. She and her late husband Walter Burnham Shirk were active members of College Hill Presbyterian Church since the early 1940s, serving the church and community in many ways. They enjoyed the fellowship of Merry Mates, and music with friends in their Organ Club. She enjoyed travelling, cooking, sewing, and playing the organ. She was a consummate hostess who never spoke an unkind word. Strong faith guided her daily life as she raised a family full of love and joy. Since 1998, Elsa was a resident at Llanfair Retirement Community. She enjoyed activities with her friends on a regular basis, including painting, playing cards, and attending Reds games and Cincinnati Pops concerts. She was an enthusiastic shuffleboard player, and brought home the Llanfair championship in 2002. Mother of the late Richard Burnham Shirk and the late Kathleen Anne Masters, Elsa is also preceded in death by her daughter-in-law Patricia Shirk. She is survived by son-in-law Charles W. Masters, and grandchildren Matthew Shirk of Portsmouth, VA, Amy Masters of Oakton, VA, Martha Masters Kugler of Los Angeles, CA, and Leslie Shirk of Cincinnati. She is also survived by 7 great-grandchildren. A service to celebrate Elsa’s life will be held at Llanfair Chapel, 1701 Llanfair Avenue, College Hill, Wednesday (today) Oct. 10th at 12:30pm and will be followed by a reception. In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions to be sent to Llanfair Retirement Community or to Vitas Hospice.