Shea, Mary (McCormick) 1837 - 1907

SHEA, MCCORMICK, CROWLEY, LITTLE, BERGAN, GLENNON, SHERIDAN, MCCARTHY

Posted By: Reid R. Johnson (email)
Date: 8/5/2021 at 20:31:25

Elkader Register, Thur., 27 June 1907. Volga City Views column.

Mrs. Wm. Shea was born in Callen, Kilkenny Co., Ireland, Jan. 1, 1837, and died in Volga City June 22nd, 1907.

She was the oldest of three children. When she was seventeen years old she came with friends to St. Louis. On their voyage across the ocean they were shipwrecked and were obliged to remain on the water three weeks, losing all their clothes and provisions.

On April 6, 1857, she was married in St. Louis to the late Wm. Shea, and three years later they moved to Iowa, where she lived until the time of her death.

To this marriage eleven children were born: Sister Mary Martha, of Clinton, Iowa; Thomas, of Platte, S.D.; Mrs. Jas. Crowley, of Babcock, Wis.; Anna, who died in infancy; Edward, Mrs. Jas. Little, Martin, Wm. Jr., Mrs. Thos. Bergan, Mrs. Wm. Glennon and John, all of Volga City.

Mrs. Shea, with her husband and three children, came to Volga City forty-six years ago, moving onto their farm 1 1/2 miles southeast of Volga, where she lived up to the time of her death.

She was well liked by all who knew her and no one ever heard her say an unkind word of anyone. She died surrounded by all her children except Thomas, who was unable to come on account of sickness.

Besides her ten children, she leaves two sisters in St. Louis, Mrs. Jas. Sheridan and Mrs. Daniel McCarthy.

Mrs. Shea had always been a faithful member of the Catholic church and in her dying hour she had the pleasure of having the priest at her bedside and was consoled by the last sacraments. Requiem mass was celebrated in the Sacred Heart church at Volga City June 24, 1907, Rev. Father Hetherington celebrant, who also preached a touching sermon. Her mortal remains were laid to rest beside her beloved husband in the Catholic cemetery at Volga City.

(Note: See her Gravestone photo on the IGPP.)

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Death certificate names her father as Thomas McCormick