Lenore C. Dunlavy's Obituary
Lenore Cecilia Dunlavy, 96, died peacefully Monday, Dec. 1, 2025 at Mercy Medical Center, fittingly where she dedicated a lot of her life. She was the daughter of Otto and Ella (Schettle) Schuster, born Nov. 2, 1929 on the southside of Oshkosh. Lenore devoted her life to faith, family and friends.
She graduated from Sacred Heart Grade School, Oshkosh High School, and Mercy Hospital School of Nursing. A woman with Bavarian roots, she married an Irishman from New London, Wis., John Dunlavy on June 21, 1952 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Oshkosh. They raised five children together filled with love, laughter, and shenanigans.
Lenore loved learning and working in healthcare as a registered nurse. She retired from nursing from Kimberly-Clark Corp. In her retirement, she volunteered at Mercy Medical Hospital, Meals on Wheels, and St. Josaphat’s Church.
Lenore was a lifelong Catholic, often attending daily Mass and saying the daily Rosary. Many knew Lenore from her gift of gab, her love of baking cookies (especially her grandchildren), and knitted goods such as socks, mittens, baby sweaters, and Irish sweaters.
She is survived by her children: Michael, Sturgeon Bay, Wis.; Patrick (Joan), Polson, Mont.; Peter, Oshkosh, Wis.; Mary (Brian) Nevins, Oshkosh; eight grandchildren, Meghan Dunlavy, Jennifer (Scott) Hewit, Maureen (Michael) Alley, Christopher (Emilie) Nevins, Margaret Nevins, Graham (Kaitlyn) Stringert, Colin Stringert, and Ellen Dunlavy; and six great grandchildren, Hazel, Beau and Wyatt Hewit, Sean and Patrick Alley, and Austyn Stringert.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 50 years, her daughter Terese, parents, brother David, and in-laws. A funeral Mass will be held at 11 a.m. Wed., Dec. 10, 2025 at St. Jude Catholic Church (formerly Sacred Heart Catholic Church), with a one-hour visitation held at 10 a.m. preceding the Mass. Burial will be at Sacred Heart Cemetery after the funeral.
Lenore longed to be with John and Terese, who passed away in 2003 and 2004 respectively. She is now sitting alongside them at the picture window.
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