Hermine M. Lovell

8/25/24 After a brief illness of Cholangiocarcinoma, Mom, Grandma, Oma passed away in the comfort of her home, family at her bedside; friends close to her heart. Hermine Lovell, Hermey, born 7/25/1937 in Ingolstadt Germany, lived a quiet but amazing life. Though childhood was filled with tragedies of WWII, even the loss of her father, most of her memories were of simple joys, making daisy chains; sneaking into the cinema; & oh, the chocolate bars from the US soldiers.

In 1952 her family immigrated to America. She quickly adjusted to a new country & language, even graduating with honors in just 3 years from Nazareth Academy. In her senior year she met the love of her life, Don. They married 10 months later, and as they say the rest is history: 4 children, 5 grandchildren and her most recent joy great-granddaughter Harlowe.

Hermey’s unending generosity of self was a gift to all who knew her. For 60 years she was the sole care provider for her daughter Carol, who was born with a neuromuscular condition. There was no more devoted fan of her children & grandchildren, rarely missing an event even throughout college. Cooking was her passion. Traditional German to intricate French cuisine, she did it all. Birthdays were extra special! You chose the menu, she’d prepare it from scratch, even the cake! And Christmas! Baking for days an array of German cookies & stollen while singing the carols of her homeland.

A hard worker, Hermey kept her own house right up to the end – trimming hedges, washing her car, her windows, her floors. She was practical, simple, strong, loyal, humble, and stubborn to a fault. Her only self-indulgence throughout life was golf, 30 years she belonged to 2 leagues playing as recently as June. She also enjoyed several beautiful courses throughout the US, including Hilton Head Island, where she, Don & Carol spent their winters for over 20 years. She hosted family & friends from all over the world at her “2nd home”, and her children & grandchildren gathered there nearly every Easter.

The motto by which Hermey lived was don’t wait! Enjoy life, live today. She & Don lived! It wasn’t unusual for Don to call home at lunch hour, suggesting a family getaway. Everything & everyone would be packed up ready to go when he got home from work - THAT DAY! They saw most of the US, often traveling by car with kids & camping gear in tow. In the past 12 months she made her final visit of many to Germany, then “the trip of my lifetime”, a river cruise in Portugal & Spain. This summer, like each year since 1969, she spent July 4th at the cottage, her summer vacation home on Loon Lake in Canada, where countless family memories are still being made.

A passionate fan of the Buffalo Bills, Hermey was often moved to tears of joy (or disappointment) & loved to coach from the couch in her game day gear. After the Bill’s wild card game loss last January, she resonated with a fellow fan’s televised sign: JUST ONE BEFORE I DIE… “guess I’ve gotta live one more year”. May her intervention from above be “the charm”.

Predeceased by her husband Don; Daughter Carol; survived by Daughter Lisa (Mark) Kolmer; Son Don (Mary Kay) Lovell; Daughter Kristine (David Anastasi); Grandchildren Taylor (Caroline) Kolmer, Gabrielle & Gretta Kolmer; Charlie & Lily Lovell; & many friends. Services private.

To celebrate Hermey’s legacy, donate on-line or by check to St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St Jude Place, Memphis TN 38105