Father Thomas Shea Obituary (1936 - 2017)

Rev. Thomas S. Shea, 80, of Bloomington, passed away at 6:30 p.m., Saturday, April 22, 2017 at Heritage Health in Bloomington.The Mass of Christian burial will be at 11:00 a.m., Friday, April 28, 2017 at St. Patrick Church of Merna, Bloomington with Monsignor Gerald T. Ward presiding and Bishop Daniel R. Jenky, C.S.C. in choro and will lead the prayers of Final Commendation. Visitation will be from 4:00-7:00 p.m., Thursday, April 27, 2017 at St. Patrick Church of Merna, Bloomington with a vigil prayer service at 7:00 p.m. Burial will be in St. Mars Cemetery, Bloomington.In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Catholic Charities.He was born November 16, 1936 in Bloomington, the son of John J. and Mary Catherine Sorg Shea.Survivors include his brother, Michael (Suzanne) Shea of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, two nieces, Kathleen (Sam Catanzaro) Shea of Minneapolis, MN and Angelia Shea of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; and a nephew, Sam (Susan) Shea of Cedar Rapids, IA; 8 great nieces and nephews.He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, John L. Jack Shea.Father Shea was ordained on February 2, 1973 for the Catholic Diocese of Peoria. His first assignment was the assistant at St. Monicas in East Peoria and then Vicar of the Pekin Vicariate, In 1978 he was appointed Pastor at St. Pauls in Danville. After he retired in 2001, Father Shea continued ministry as a Chaplain at OSF St. Joseph Medical Center in Bloomington and helped as an assistant at St. Patrick Church of Merna in Bloomington and St. Marys, Downs for over 10 years.Father Shea was instrumental in starting the Jesus House on Bloomingtons west side and had also been a recipient of Bloomingtons Man of the Year award.