JoAnn T. Shea

The world has lost a very kind, loving, and generous woman. JoAnn Theresa Shea, 78, passed away early Saturday, December 27, 2025 at St. Mary's hospital.

On Christmas day, our family was blessed to be able to say our final I love you and, even then, her sense of humor still shone through. As the room got too warm, her son Matt and grandson Stephen started fanning her. JoAnn joked that they needed palm fronds to fan her properly, and that cracked us all up. Matt, Andy, Caitie, and honorary son Kurt Eddy were with her for her last day on earth, surrounding her with love.

Born in New York, she lost her mother, Jean, at the age of 12 and helped support her brothers. They always knew they could count on her as she gave them a constant sense of security after the loss of their mom. After graduating from Mount Vernon High School, she attended and graduated from Berkley Secretarial School in 1966.

She met the love of her life, Stephen Shea (d. 2018) on a fishing trip with her dad, Casimir (Lou) (d.1972). They had 46 wonderful years of marriage with many laughs.

She worked as an executive secretary for Ciba-Geigy Pharmaceuticals until she had her children: Matthew, Andrew, and Caitlin.

In 1978 they moved from Brewster, New York to Westland, Michigan so Stephen could work as a buyer for GM.

When the kids were in school, she ran a dollar store in Garden City, was secretary at St. Mel's Catholic Elementary School, and then worked as secretary for Sales and Engineering until she retired.

JoAnn was generous with her time and gifts to others. She always greeted everyone with a warm, loving hug. She served as a lector and a member of the parish counsel at St. Raphael's (currently named Thomas the Apostle) for many years, as well as volunteering for the parish festival and in many other roles. She often donated time, money and items to charity and was a very giving person. She loved spending time with friends and family, and she doted on and spoiled her four grandchildren (Stephen, Lance, Joey, and Josh). She loved watching them in any of their performances. She could always be found with a few new books at her side and a new puzzle on the table. She also enjoyed spending time with her friends, especially her best friend, Ellie Sutherland.

JoAnn will be dearly missed by all who had the privilege of knowing her but most of all by her three children: Matthew (Vicki), Andrew (Polly), and Caitlin Shea, her four grandchildren: Stephen, Lance, Joey, and Josh, and her two brothers: Jan (Dottie) and Ed (Peggy).

In lieu of flowers, donations to Forgotten Harvest would be appreciated as that was one of her favorite charities.

Visitation Friday 10 am until the 1 pm Funeral Service at the John N. Santeiu & Son Funeral Home.