Virginia Margaret "Perny" Shea

1957 - 2025

Virginia Margaret "Perny" Shea
July 27, 1957 - October 24, 2025
Virginia Margaret "Perny" Shea, beloved wife, daughter, sister, mother, grandmother, and friend, passed away on Friday, October 24, 2025. Born on July 27, 1957, in Aldridge, United Kingdom, to Veronica and Ted Brewer, Perny was the youngest of three children and brought warmth, laughter, and light to everyone she met.
After completing her A levels, Perny spent a year in the United States in 1976 as an AFS student. During her stay, she visited San Antonio for Fiesta - and was forever hooked. After earning her degree from the University of Kent in Canterbury, she settled in San Antonio. She built a vibrant life there with Bill, her husband of nearly thirty years. Perny was a proud partner and part-owner of Biga on the Banks, where her gracious spirit, quick wit, and ever-present smile helped make the restaurant a beloved gathering place. She was known for her laughter, her kindness, and the effortless way she made everyone feel welcome and special.
Perny maintained deep and devoted friendships for decades and across all chapters of her life. She loved and was loved by so many wonderful friends (too many to name!) - her university pals in the UK, her "Boogie Board Babes" of Montauk, NY, her Biga Family, and the friends she made during her early years in the San Antonio restaurant scene, including her closest friend, Linda Spencer. She was a playful and loving grandparent and made every adventure more fun and magical.
Perny was a longtime patron of local artists, a tender and skilled gardener, and an avid reader - it was nearly impossible to gift her a book she hadn't already read. She and Bill loved to travel, and collected art and cherished memories around the globe. Perny's love for music and dance was legendary, and she absolutely radiated on the dance floor. She attended countless live music events and was a particularly dedicated Mick Jagger fan.
Preceding her in death are her father, Ted Brewer, and her sister-in-law, Liz Clement. She is survived by her mother, Veronica Brewer; her devoted husband, Dr. William Shea; and their two daughters, Sarah and Katie, who were the great joys of her life. She is also survived by her siblings, Kevin Brewer and Catherine Brewer; her beloved goddaughters, Johanna Spencer and Isabella Shea; her many nieces and nephews; and her adoring grandchildren, Violet, Molly, James, and John.
Perny loved to dance, to laugh, and to celebrate life - her family and friends plan to do just that! A Celebration of Life & Dance Party will be held in the coming months, so stay tuned.
In the meantime, please join us for a Memorial Service on Sunday, November 9, at 4:00 PM, at Biga on the Banks, 203 S. St. Mary's St., San Antonio, Texas 78205, in the River Terrace Room on the 3rd floor.
In lieu of flowers, the family invites those who knew and loved Perny to honor her memory with a contribution to the Musical Bridges Around The World or St. Phillip's College Culinary Arts Program in San Antonio, two causes close to her heart.
Perny's family, friends, and colleagues will forever remember her joyful heart, her generous spirit, and the way she brightened every room she entered.
You may sign the online guestbook at www.porterloring.com.