Jeanne Shea, 94, Albert Lea

Published 10:14 am Friday, February 22, 2013

Memorial services for Jeanne H. Shea of Albert Lea, will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at St. Theodore Catholic Church. The Rev. Timothy T. Reker and Deacon Mike Ellis will officiate. Friends may greet the family one hour prior to the service at the church. Interment will be in St Theodore Catholic Cemetery.

Jeanne died on Wednesday, Feb. 20, 2013, at the Thorne Crest Retirement Community in Albert Lea. She was 94 years of age.

Jeanne Shea

Jeanne was born March 7, 1918, in Sioux City, Iowa, the daughter of John H. and Mary A. (Russell) Ahern. She graduated from St Mary High School, Salem, S.D., in 1936, College of St. Catherine, St Paul, in 1940 and received her media generalist degree from Mankato State University in 1972.

Jeanne was united in marriage to William Shea on Feb. 19, 1944, in Tucson, Ariz.

She had been employed as a secretary in the War Department in Washington D.C. from 1941 to 1944. She was a secretary for Super Structures from 1960 to 1961, Edwards Manufacturing from 1961 to 1963, teacher at St Marys School from 1964 to 1966 and as a librarian with the Albert Lea School District from 1966 to 1982.

Jeanne was an active member of St. Theodore Catholic Church, CCW, the Albert Lea Retired Educators Association of Minnesota, the Southeast and Albert Lea Retired Educators Association, the International Honor Society for Women Educators, the Freeborn County Historical Society, the Freeborn County Genealogical Society, Delta Kappa Gamma, a 40-year member of the American Association of University Women and the Story Lady Doll & Toy Museum.

Jeanne completed civil pilot training and obtained her private license in 1941. She loved travel and Elderhostel’s, reading, playing bridge and various volunteer activities.

Jeanne is survived by her husband, William of Albert Lea; daughter, Maureen C. Birum and husband David of Osage, Iowa; son, Daniel J. Shea and wife Laura of Ham Lake; sisters in law, Jean L. Shea of Mesa, Ariz., and Doris Ahern of Yankton, S.D.; five grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; infant daughter Ellen; and brother Russell Ahern.