Joseph D. Shea, 82, of Lawrence passed away peacefully on October 8, 2017, surrounded by his loving family at the Mary Immaculate Restorative Center. He was born in Lawrence and was the son of the late Alphonsus and Agnes (McCarthy) Shea.
Joe was raised in Methuen and graduated from Central Catholic High School in 1952. After graduating from Merrimack College he worked with the IBM Corporation and as a mathematics teacher at the Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical High School.
Upon retirement, Joe’s attention turned to art and discovering new places to hang his hat (or more specifically, his favorite plaid cap). Through the years the places Joe called home included Wells Beach, ME, Wolfeboro, NH, Boston, MA, South Beach, FL, Santa Monica, CA, Rockport, TX.
Mr. Shea is preceded in death by his parents, brother Cornelius and sister Alice (Shea) McDonald. He is survived by brothers John "Jack" of Mexico and Br. Leo J. Shea, FMS of Bronx, NY, his former spouse and lifelong friend Mary Lou Shea, her son Joseph, his sister-in-law Elisabeth "Libby" Shea and several cousins.
Uncle Joe will be lovingly remembered by his nephews David (Annie) Shea, Michael (Kathleen) Shea, Chip (Maggie) McDonald, Stephen (Dee) McDonald, Brian McDonald, niece Kathryn Chesser (Conrad Walser) and several great nieces and nephews. He was also the uncle of the late Timothy Shea.
The family would like to thank the staff and chaplains at MI Restorative Care and Marguerite House for their compassionate care, especially during Joe’s final days.
Calling hours will be held on Saturday, October 14, 2017, from 10 AM to Noon with a prayer service at 12 in the Burke-Magliozzi Funeral Home, 390 North Main Street, Andover. Interment will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Joseph’s name to Marist Brother’s Development, 4200 West 115th St., Chicago, Ill. 60655 or the Lazarus House Ministries Inc., PO box 408, Lawrence, MA 01842. For additional information, please visit, www.burkemagliozzi.com.