Lula P. Getreu

Lula P Getreu (née Herron), beloved wife of the late John C. Getreu, passed away on Sept 4 at the age of 103. Lula was born a coal miner's daughter in Harlan County KY during the great influenza epidemic of 1918, and survived despite being born with the flu. As a young adult she moved to Cincinnati and met John at the old Mills Restaurant. They married in 1949. John's union experience landed him a job with the NLRB and he eventually became Regional Director; his work led them to move to Memphis then Atlanta then back to Mariemont (Cincinnati) where they raised their three children. Lula was active in church, an avid Reds fan, and was a masterful cook of chicken & dumplings and southern pies. She walked several miles per day until she was 95 y/o. In 2014 the Mayor of Mariemont declared it "Lula Getreu Day". Over the last few years, she suffered from several falls and memory problems but still had good days. Unfortunately, COVID restrictions at her facility kept her family away during her last month, then she caught breakthrough COVID herself, which caused her death. She was feisty, opinionated, but vibrant and wonderful. She will be sorely missed. She is survived by her loving children Linda (Doug) Hawley, John (Betsy) Getreu and Lou Ann Downey; grandchildren Brian Hawley, Tracy (Adam) Zimmer, Kevin (Meredith) Hawley, Thomas (Ashley) Getreu, Emily (Sam) Stachura, Bill (Elizabeth) Downey, Johnny Downey (Mark Lutterbeck) and Tom (Deena) Downey; and her great grandchildren Paige, Emmy, and Cameron Zimmer; Natalie Hawley; Carson and Cameran Getreu; Isla Stachura; Jack and Harper Downey; and Graham and Grayson Downey, all of whom she loved dearly. Donations may be made in her memory to Building Block for Kids, www.BB4K.org/donate. A small private service with only immediate family will be held. T.P.WHITE & SONS serving the family.