Obituary of Patricia Margaret Shea

Patricia Margaret Shea (nee Trainor), in her 98th year, passed away at Beach Grove Home on October 24, 2016. Her husband Edward Shea predeceased her in 1970. Patricia, often called “Grannie Trish” is survived by her daughter Donna Driscoll, Cecil (Ruthie), Blair (Barbara), Edison (Adele), Brian (Nola) and Shawn (JoAnne). Patricia has grandchildren, great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren numbering 52 in all. She was predeceased by her grandson Dean Francis Shea (1968-1975), grandson Shane Driscoll (1963-1985), and son-in-law Lawrence Driscoll (1943-2008). When Patricia was 3 years old she lost her mother, Amy Jane (O’Connell) Trainor who was only 23 at the time of her death. Her father Jack Trainor (1892-1969) originally of St Patrick Road, Peakes, passed away in Halifax and is buried there in Mount Olivet Roman Catholic Cemetery. Her older and only sibling John Francis Trainor died in 1918 at 2 months of age. After the loss of her mother in 1923, Patricia was raised in Tarantum by her grandparents James Joseph O’Connell and Margaret Jane (Beagan) O’Connell. Their surviving 3 daughters – Priscilla Hughes, Margaret Gass and Catherine Rene Barnhill were loving aunts who each helped raise Patricia and became her life-long friend and mentor. In 1939 Patricia married Edward Shea and they lived in Glenfinnan for a short time before going to Boston for a few months of employment. They returned in 1940 and shortly thereafter set up Shea’s General Store in Watervale, which operated until October 1987 when Patricia moved to her new bungalow in Tarantum. She lived there until December 2012 when her health dictated a move to Beach Grove Home. Patricia enjoyed living in her own home and initially found the transition to a nursing home difficult. However, the great staff at Beach Grove Home do incredible work for those in their care and this helped Patricia immensely. Patricia’s family is very grateful to all of the staff at Beach Grove Home. During the last few years of Patricia’s life, her daughter-in-law Nola Shea gave her undivided attention to Patricia’s every need and helped make her life much better during those years of frailty. The Shea family thanks Nola for her incredible care and love given to Patricia. Visitation will be on Wednesday, October 26, 2016 from 4 PM to 7 PM at Hillsboro Funeral Home, 2 Hollis Avenue, Stratford, PEI. Funeral service will be held on Thursday, October 27, 2016 at 11:00 AM at St. Patrick’s Church, Fort Augustus followed by interment in the church cemetery. CWL members will have prayers at 3:30 PM at the funeral home just prior to the public visitation. If so desired donations may be made in Patricia’s memory to St Patrick’s Church Cemetery Fund or Beach Grove Memorial Fund. Completion of funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Hillsboro Funeral Home. Online condolences may be sent to hillsborofuneral@eastlink.ca or by clicking the Online Condolence link below.