Visiting: Wednesday (4/23) & Thursday (4/24) 2-4 & 7-9 PM Mass: Friday 10:30 AM @ Our Lady of Angels Church Cemetery: Long Island National Cemetery (Farmingdale, NY) - - - - - COMPLIMENTARY VALET PARKING AVAILABLE - - - - - In lieu of flowers, donations to: The New York Aquarium www.nyaquarium.com (718)741-1654 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Mary Shea died at her home in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, after a long illness, on Easter Sunday, April 20, 2014. She was the third child of Isabella Gildea and Michael Gallagher, and dear sister to Nora Donlon, Margaret Byrnes, and the late James Gallager; also fond sister-in-law to John Donlon, Donald Byrnes, and Eileen Gallagher; as well as lifelong best friend to Marion Klar. Mary was married for fifteen years to James Shea, who died in 1974, and had two children, Ellen Shea and James Michael Shea, whom she greatly loved. She was the mother-in-law to John Schaefer and Siv Henriksen, and beloved grandmother to four terrific grandchildren: Saratoga and Isabella Schaefer, and Kristian and Anna Shea. Mary was also a loving aunt to John, Michael, Kathleen, Patricia, Thomas, Timothy, Eileen, Bob, Ann, Maureen, Michael, James, and Ellen (and Lisa, too). Mary grew up in Carroll Gardens before it was called that, and went to St. Mary Star of the Sea parish and elementary school, St. Joseph's High School, and then Hunter College. She became a teacher in the NYC public school system, where she taught hundreds of children for over 40 years, most of them at P.S. 58 on Smith Street. After her retirement, Mary volunteered as an education docent at the NY Aquarium, where she enjoyed teaching more children about the ocean's creatures. Mary loved the Adirondacks and Sacandaga Lake, where her sister and brother had small cabins, and enjoyed many summer nights by the fire, telling and listening to stories about the old days. She held fast to her Irish roots always, and liked hearing her brother and father sing songs from the old days. One of her favorite things to do was to gather with family and friends for special occasions, but she also liked time alone and was an avid reader, especially of English history and murder mysteries. She liked old movies, The New York Times, visiting museums, art work, and all animals, especially cats. Mary loved her life and clung fiercely to it. Although she had to bear up under a difficult and complicated illness, she never gave up hope that things would improve. Her presence and her tough, generous Irish soul will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her.