Rosemary Ann Shea

Rosemary Ann (Sasseen) Shea, 87, formerly of Hartford, CT, and of Roslindale and Arlington, MA, died peacefully Wednesday (October 2, 2019) at her daughter's home in Kittery, Maine. Born on March 14, 1932, the third of four children to George T. and Rosemary (Head) Sasseen, she grew up in Weston, CT, where she enjoyed exploring the surrounding woodlands and venturing off on her bicycle. She attended Georgetown Visitation Preparatory School in Washington, DC, where she was known for her athleticism in field hockey, basketball, and softball, as well as for her fun-loving spirit. She attended the University of Connecticut, School of Nursing, graduating in 1954 with a B.S. and R.N. She was a member of Delta Zeta Sorority, as well as the swimming and field hockey clubs. A dog lover, Rosemary was often tasked with the safe-keeping of the UConn mascot, the husky dog, whom she kept hidden in her room when rival sports teams came to campus. Upon graduating, she became a nurse with the Visiting Nurses Association in Hartford, CT. Nursing, specifically elder care, was her vocation, and she worked for her entire career at several nursing homes in the Greater Hartford area, including as a nurse supervisor at Greenwood Health Center, until her retirement in 2001. As a member of the Catholic Graduates Club of Greater Hartford, she met her husband, the Honorable David M. Shea (deceased) and they were married in 1956. Together they raised eight children on Newton Street and Westerly Terrace in Hartford. A loving wife, mother, grandmother, and sister, Rosemary is survived by her eight children, Susan Shea and her husband, Ted Vogt, of West Brookfield, VT, Kathleen Shea and her husband Neill DePaoli of Kittery, ME, Margaret Shea Turner and her husband Lyle Turner of Amherst, OH, Christina Shea of Roslindale, MA, Rosemary Shea-Cobb and her husband Max Cobb of Westford, VT, Michael Shea and his wife, Frédérique Shea of Hartford, Maura Shea Crowley and her husband Stephen Crowley of Arlington, MA, and Julie Shea Crocker and her husband Andrew Crocker of Manchester, MA; her 18 loving grandchildren; and her beloved collie dog, Maggie. She was predeceased by her three siblings, Patricia (Sasseen) Van Cleve, George "Terry" Sasseen, and Sheila (Sasseen) Cowing. Rosemary was an active member of the Greater Hartford community including: as a parishioner of Our Lady of Sorrows Church and St. Joseph Cathedral, as PTO president of Noah Webster School, as a board member of Northwest Catholic High School, and a volunteer at the St. Joseph School for Young Children. She loved sports of all kinds, playing tennis, skiing, and competing as a U.S. Master swimmer while raising children. She was an enthusiastic fan of UConn women's basketball, and, in her later years, the Boston Red Sox. She had boundless energy and instilled a strong work ethic in her children, overseeing their delivery of the Hartford Courant in the early mornings before school. She was a lover of animals and nature, and was often seen walking through Elizabeth Park or the West Hartford reservoir system with her two collies. She was strong and independent with a great sense of humor and deep compassion for others. She will be deeply missed by her family and friends. Funeral services will be held Friday, October 11th at 11 a.m., Our Lady of Sorrows Church, 79 New Park Avenue, Hartford. Calling hours are Thursday, October 10th from 6-8 p.m. at Molloy Funeral Home, 906 Farmington Avenue, West Hartford. Memorial donations may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or to the Cathedral of St. Joseph, Food Pantry, 140 Farmington Avenue, Hartford, CT 06015. Online expressions of sympathy may be made at www.molloyfuneralhome.com