Dorothy T. Shea

Dorothy Theresa (O’Shea) Shea, 98, of Peabody, MA passed away peacefully with her family by her side Monday, February 27th at the Kaplan Family Hospice House in Danvers, MA. She was born to Ida Naideck on November 11, 1924 at the NY Foundling Home. At the age of three, she was adopted by Timothy and Margaret (Foley) O’Shea and raised in Sunnyside Gardens, Queens, New York.

She attended the Academy of the Assumption in Wellesley, MA and then the nursing school at Peter Bent Brigham Hospital in Boston, becoming a registered nurse. From 1943 to 1946, she served in the Cadet Nursing Corps during World War Two.

Growing up, her family spent most summers on Cape Cod where she enjoyed many wonderful times with her Brogan and Rowley cousins. She met the love of her life, Edward Joseph Shea in 1947 and they were married on November 27, 1948 at Saint Francis Xavier Church in Hyannis, MA. They lived in Holyoke, MA, Ed’s hometown from 1948 until 1984, where they raised their family of seven children. They then moved to their home on Swan Lake in West Yarmouth, MA, where they lived together until Ed’s death in 1997. In 2009, she moved to Brooksby Village in Peabody, MA, but continued to summer at the Cape house until 2020. Brooksby became a special place for her for the past 14 years, making many dear friends and enjoying her days and nights out playing cards, especially the game of cribbage. She was fiercely friendly and fiercely competitive!

Mom was predeceased by her husband of 49 years, Edward J. Shea and one son, Timothy J. Shea. She is survived by six children; Michael and wife Nancy of Cumberland, ME; Daniel and wife Patricia of Boulder,CO; Tom and partner Nancy Woodman of Ipswich, MA; James and wife Cheryl of Spring,TX; Marianne Paladino and husband Jim of South Portland,ME; and Marlene Nagle and husband Ed of Ipswich,MA. She is also survived by eleven grandchildren; Colleen Hallee, Chris and Jim Shea, Claire Shea He and Megan Shea, Kelly Shea Fay and Patrick Shea, Matthew and Andrew Paladino and Melissa Denton, and Casey Shea.

Incredibly she is also survived by twenty great grandchildren! Her extended family includes Tara Patrican and her children, Whitney Saint John and her spouse Jarret and children, and Alex and Jesse Nagle and their children.

A mass of Christian Burial will be at Saint Francis Xavier Church in Hyannis, MA on Friday, March 3, 2023 at 10:00am with burial immediately following at the Saint Francis Cemetery in Centerville. Family and friends may gather from 8:30 to 9:30 at Doane, Beal & Ames funeral home in Hyannis before the funeral services. Donations in Mom’s name may be made to the Kaplan Family Hospice House in Danvers,MA where she received excellent care in her final days.

Family and friends will have an opportunity to gather at a planned Celebration of Life for Dorothy later in the spring in the Peabody area.