Christina Mairi Shea

Christina Mairi (Scott) Shea, 92, of Philadelphia, passed away peacefully on November 21, 2025.

Born on August 1, 1933, Christina was the daughter of the late William and Amelia (Robertson) Scott. She was born and raised in Farnham, Quebec, Canada.

Beloved wife of Dr. John ("Jay") Shea, Jr., Christina is also survived by her sisters, Wilma (Charles/David) Stewart-White and Louise (Kenneth) Murphy. She is predeceased by her brother, Ronald (Suzanne) Scott. She was a loving aunt to many nephews, nieces, great nephews, and great nieces.

Christina met her husband, Jay, while working in the Anatomy Department as an Administrative Assistant at McGill University, where Jay was attending graduate school. Christina and Jay were married for 57 years and lived a long and happy life together, primarily in Philadelphia. She graduated from Macdonald College of McGill University Ste. Anne de Bellevue, Quebec, Canada, with a diploma (Honors) in Handcrafts.

Christina began her career at Barry & Stains where she worked as a switchboard operator. Later, she worked at McGill University, and then at the British Consulate in Philadelphia. Her last position was at the University of Pennsylvania where she was the Executive Assistant to the Williams Director. She worked there for many years before retiring in 2002.

She was a member of Christ Church, the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, and the Philadelphia Guild of Hand Weavers.

During her time with the Guild of Hand Weavers, Christina placed first in the "Yardage" category in a 1979 exhibition and received many other awards and honors over the years. She was a two-time (1983, 1986) winner of the J. Willard Lord Award. In Christina's words:

"My ideas originate from the enjoyment of handling yarns and I try to express in my work, my feelings for these fibers. While each yarn has its own nature, the integrity of a design is established by the weave construction which compliments the intended purpose."

Christina enjoyed reading, traveling, cooking, and above all, she cherished spending quality time with her family and friends. From an early age, she was captivated by the world of books, often losing herself in stories long past bedtime. Her lifelong passion for reading stayed a constant source of inspiration, growth, and joy. She also loved to travel and carefully saved her vacation time to take trips that lasted three or four weeks each year. Although she traveled to many places, including Spain, Tunisia, and England, Morocco remained her favorite for its vibrant culture.

Per Christina's wishes, there will be no visiting hours. Family and friends are invited to her Funeral Mass on December 5, 2025 11am Christ Church, 20 N. American St., Philadelphia, PA 19106, Christina's burial will take place at a later date at St. Alphosus Cemetery, 3399 U.S. Rt.7, Pittsford, VT 05763 (**1).

**1

The cemetery is found between the Pittsford Historical Society and the Lathrop Elementary School, and across the road from Evergreen Cemetery. It sits back from the road, but a small yellow sign at the edge of the Historic Society parking lot directs the way in.