On April 16, 1933, a baby girl was born to Michael G. and Arline M. (Davis) Leibhart. The proud parents named their baby, Shirley Mae. Shirley Mae was followed in short order by a sister, Marilyn Jane, who arrived on October 18, 1934. The two sisters became fast friends and did everything together. Shirley became "Howie" while Marilyn was known as "MeMe." As the two sisters grew, their mother would frequently give them some money and send them to the store to buy bread. Howie and MeMe would dutifully walk to the store and buy the bread. But then, on the way home, the bread would somehow become an "accordion" that just begged to be played!

The sisters were joined on October 18, 1939 by Joyce Ann and then seven years later in 1946, by a brother, Wayne Jay. The Leibhart family was now complete.

Howie and MeMe continued to be fast friends and, in their teenage years developed a love for roller skating at the local skating rink. It was there that Howie met a boy, Donald L. Handwork, who, with his curly brown locks and twinkling blue eyes, swept her off her feet. Howie went on to graduate from Salem High School in spring of 1951. Then on December 1, 1951, she and that boy with the curly brown locks and twinkling blue eyes were united in marriage, a union that would last for 53 years, until Donald's (a.k.a. Fuzz) death in May 2003.

On June 23, 1952, Shirley and Don were joined by a daughter, Brenda Jean and Shirley (a.k.a. Howie) became Mommie. Mommie cared for her husband, her daughter and her home and then on November 11, 1959 they welcomed a baby boy, Donald L. Handwork, Jr. to the family. Around that time, they bought a small house on Green Beaver Rd. Mommie loved that house. Together, she and Don planted rhododendrons and azaleas, forsythias and maple trees, roses and black-eyed susies. Inside they painted and papered and made a cozy home for themselves and their two children. The family spent many happy hours together gathered around the TV, watching football (the Steelers, the Browns, and the Buckeyes), Bonanza, Carol Burnett, the Dick Van Dyke show and the original Star Trek. Every afternoon, Mommie would take a little break from her household chores and, reclining on the sofa in the living room, watch the Young and the Restless.

Eventually the children grew up and left that home. Brenda went off to college while Don, Jr. joined the Navy and saw the world. Mommie and Don became members of Greenford Christian Church where they were active volunteers. They traveled with the Cornerstone Group and delivered bread to first time attendees of the church. Mommie played bells in the bell choir.

On January 28, 1987, Mommie became "Nana" when Brenda and her husband, Robert C. Johnson, welcomed their daughter, Katherine Arline Johnson into the world. Nana and Katy formed an instant bond that was so strong even the 200 miles between them could not diminish it. Nana loved reading to Katy, making crafts with her, painting pumpkins at Pumpkin Show, visiting the Canfield Fair and Sea World in Aurora. Katy could always make Nana smile.

But as all people do, Nana began to grow older. In 2003, she lost her husband, Don, that boy with the curly brown hair and twinkling blue eyes. Over the years, he had lost his brown curls but never the twinkle in his eyes or the love in his heart for Nana.

Her sister, MeMe, was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and moved to Colorado. The two sisters, once so close, had grown apart. Then, in 2006, along with her daughter, Brenda and niece, Diane (Rau) Blessing, she traveled out west to Salida, Colorado. Howie and MeMe were re-united. The two spent some great days together, visiting and re-living old times. There may have been some bingo played as well. It was the last time that they were together in this life.

As the years passed, Nana developed health problems that restricted her ability to care for her home. Her son, Don, Jr., returned home. They cared for each other for several years until the care Nana needed was beyond Donnie's abilities. In January 2016, she moved from that tiny house that she had cared for for so many years to Circleville, Ohio where she resided with her daughter, Brenda and her son-in-law, Robert. Then, Donnie himself suffered a debilitating stroke in November 2017 and passed away on December 26, 2018. Nana's health began to decline more rapidly and after a series of setbacks, she passed from this world on April 11, 2019 in Grove City, Ohio.

Nana was preceded in death by her husband, parents, sisters, brother, and son. She is survived by her daughter, Brenda (Robert) Johnson of Circleville, her beloved granddaughter, Katherine (Luke Sinopoli) Johnson of Philadelphia, her brother-in-law, Bruce Rhodes, Sr., a sister-in-law, Doris Yeager, special friend, Shirley Westphal, and many nieces and nephews who loved to tease her about stuffing her handbag with rolls whenever they ate out.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to the Rhodes family for their prayers, support and assistance in the last years of Nana's life. They were always available to lend a hand, whether it be a drive to and from a doctor's appointment, moving furniture from Salem to Circleville, offering a place to stay at a moment's notice, serving as legal guardian for Donnie and many, many times, a listening ear, a comforting word, and a warm hug. Particular thanks to Theresa Rhodes Depp, Bruce and Mary Rhodes, Jr., Bruce Rhodes, Sr., Dennis Rhodes and Robert Lassiter.

Calling hours will be from 10 a.m. to noon with a funeral service officiated by Bruce Rhodes, Jr. to follow immediately on April 20, 2019 at Arbaugh-Pearce-Greenisen & Sons in Salem, Ohio. Cremation will take place after the service with interment at Grandview Cemetery at a later date. Memorial contributions in Nana's name may be made to the American Lung Association (lung.org) or the COPD Foundation (copdfoundation.org.).