O'Shea, Shirley J.

Shirley J. O'Shea, age 83, passed away on December 8, 2011. Born on February 22, 1928, Shirley was the daughter of the late John and Mary Garvey. Shirley is now reunited with the love of her life, her husband Martin, who predeceased her on March 18, 1985. She is also predeceased by her brothers, John, Michael, Kevin and Robert Garvey; her sisters, Eileen O'Leary and Patricia McManus. Shirley is survived by her six children, John and Debra O'Shea, Houston, Texas, Maureen and Robert Rude, Falmouth, Maine, Kevin and Ramona O'Shea, Auburn, NY, Eileen O'Shea and fiance Robert Bowen, Brian O'Shea, Donald and Patricia O'Shea, Shirley, NY. She is also survived by her grandchildren, Kathleen (Justin) Muck, Kelly (Brandon) Tingey, Mary (Daniel) Meisner, Katherine Rude, Sean O'Shea, Martin O'Shea and Molly O'Shea. She also leaves her great-grandchildren, Kaitlyn Muck, Logan Meisner and Libby Meisner. Shirley also leaves her sisters, Jacqueline (Jack) Cahill, Sheila (Philip) DeMarco, her brother, Brian Garvey, and her sisters-in-law, Mary Garvey and Betty Garvey, two very special cousins, Theresa Matson and Thelma Bailey, good friend, Annamae Rude, as well as many nieces and nephews. Shirley attended St. Paul's School and graduated from Binghamton North High School. She married Marty on June 16, 1951 and they had many happy years together. Shirley worked as a mom and homemaker before being employed as a census taker, a clerk in the City Clerk's office and an election volunteer. Shirley continued her volunteer work at the American Legion Post 1645 for 30 years. She held the position of Treasurer for fourteen years, as well as being a Team Captain which involved overseeing weddings, bingo and parties. She received a Lifetime Membership Award in 1990. Shirley was inducted into the Legion Baseball Hall of Fame in July 2011 for the many hours she devoted to the World Youth Softball games. When Shirley wasn't volunteering, she was busy constructing doll houses. She would decorate them with wallpaper, carpeting and beautiful furnishings. Shirley graciously donated her doll houses to charity auctions throughout the Northeast. The family would like to thank the Binghamton Fire Dept. Paramedics for their kind assistance. The family will receive friends on Sunday, December 11, 2011 from 3 to 6 p.m. at the Thomas J. Shea Funeral Home, 137 Robinson Street, Binghamton, NY. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday, December 12th at 1 p.m. at St. Paul's Church, corner of Robinson and Chenango Streets, Binghamton. Burial will follow in Calvary Cemetery, Johnson City, NY. Donations in Shirley's memory may be made to Danielle House, 160 Riverside Drive, Binghamton, NY 13905 or to St. Paul's Food Pantry, 15 Double Day St. Binghamton, NY 13901.

Published in Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin from December 10 to December 12, 2011