Louise O''SHEA

Louise Suzanne O'Shea died peacefully in her own home in Toronto on December 20, 2023. Her wishes were that no funeral be held and that her ashes be scattered with those of her late husband, Colm O'Shea. She requested that no notice of her death be placed in the newspaper for at least one year. Louise was born in Montreal, Quebec, on May 8, 1928. She was predeceased by her parents, Lou and Jeanne Duquet, her sister, Andree, and by her beloved husband, Colm O'Shea, who died in August 1975. Louise is survived by her niece, Andree Hest and her two nephews Christopher and Jeffrey Hest, all of whom reside in the United States. Louise, as a young adventuresome woman, commuted from the family home in Montreal, to work as a television weather announcer on WCAX TV in Burlington, Vermont. She left that job for the excitement of life in New York City modelling and working at one of New York's finest women's stores. Upon returning to Montreal, she and a friend went into a fledgling business, selling TV and radio commercials. It was while working in the media business, that Louise met the great love of her life, Colm Peter O'Shea. Colm, coming to start a new life in Canada, had recently arrived from Ireland where he was a world class equestrian and a Captain in the Irish Army. For Louise and Colm it was love at first sight. They moved to Toronto and were married in a Catholic church on March 31, 1963. Their businesses, Colm O'Shea Limited and Direction video Inc. became the Canadian distributors of many well-known American, British and International television shows in both the English and French markets. Louise's love of travel had been early fostered by her Mother, when the two of them travelled by car and train to many places in the United States. It was inevitable that, with Colm, this love of travel took them to many places throughout Europe, for both business and pleasure. Their life together was cut short by Colm's untimely death in 1975. This left Louise to run the businesses with the help of a devoted staff which she continued until well into the next century. After Colm's death, Louise travelled on world cruises with Crystal Cruise Lines to every continent always elegantly attired, never without wearing her high-heeled shoes. Louise was a very private person in life and in business. She was devoted to and supportive of all her employees who worked for her for many years. Louise was a patron of the arts in Toronto, devoted to her church, and a supporter of many local and national charities. As one of her friends said, Louise's kindness and generosity throughout her life and after her death, will be forever cherished by those whom she touched. Arrangements under the direction of Humphrey Funeral Home A.W. Miles – Newbigging Chapel (Tel 1-800-6161-3311)