Joan E. (McGreevy) Shea

MARBLEHEAD - Joan Elizabeth (McGreevy) Shea, of Marblehead, passed away on Friday, October 1st at the age of 72. She was the beloved wife of Arthur D. Shea with whom she shared 49 years of marriage; the devoted mother of Michael Shea and his wife, Amy of North Andover; the cherished grandmother of Jackson Shea; loving sister of Ann McGreevy of Marblehead, Maureen Horan and her husband, Walter of Marblehead, Thomas McGreevy of Harwich, William McGreevy of Boca Raton, Florida, and the late Mary McGreevy of Worcester. She was the dear daughter of the late Thomas and Ann (Loftus) McGreevy of Worcester and is also survived by her many beloved godchildren, nieces and nephews as well as many grandnieces and grandnephews.

Joan grew up in Worcester, was a proud graduate of Ascension Central Catholic High School and the Worcester City Hospital School of Nursing. Joan dedicated her life to caring for others through her long, distinguished career as a Registered Nurse. Joan started her career in the first Alcohol Detoxification Center in Worcester, primarily serving the homeless population. When Joan and Artie moved from Worcester to Boston, she began working at Massachusetts General Hospital where she spent several years. When she decided to move to Marblehead to start a family, her nursing career followed.

She spent several years at the Mary A. Alley Hospital in Marblehead. When an opportunity to become a School Nurse for the Marblehead Public Schools became available, Joan jumped at the chance to make an impact on the community, spending many years as the elementary school nurse. Finally, Joan worked in the Devereaux Nursing Home in Marblehead, until she retired, where she cared for many elderly residents including her mother, up until the time of her passing.

Joan’s strong sense of civic duty and true love of all things Marblehead afforded her the opportunity to make a lasting impact on our community. Joan spent many years fundraising as the Vice-President of the Marblehead High School Boosters Club. After her retirement from nursing, she volunteered for the Marblehead Council on Aging, eventually becoming a Board Member for the organization.

Joan had a tremendous passion for life, she was an avid reader, loving to read, and re-read the classics, especially her favorite Jane Austin. She also enjoyed knitting, baking elaborate desserts, learning, anything Halloween-related, and of course watching her beloved Red Sox. She truly cherished her time spent with her husband, family and friends, her son and grandson were her pride and joy.

Visiting hours for Joan will be held on Friday, October 15th from 4:00-8:00 p.m.at Eustis & Cornell of Marblehead, 142 Elm Street. In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy may be made in Joan’s memory to “Type One Research” at Joslin Diabetes Center, Inc., One Joslin Place, Boston, MA 02215 or via joslin.org.