Catherine Marie (Schatz) Shea

CATHERINE MARIE (SCHATZ) SHEA Catherine Marie (Schatz) Shea passed away after a short struggle after being diagnosed with cancer on February 24 , 2019 at the age of 91. She was the second youngest of four daughters; born to Joseph and Madgel Schatz on June 16, 1927 in North Platte, Nebraska. She spent all her growing up years in North Platte, and was proud to claim Nebraska as her home state. She attended St. Patrick's Catholic school. She was worked alongside her sisters to support the North Platte Canteen, providing comfort to infantrymen on their way to the war by providing food, magazines, planting victory gardens and anything to raise their spirits. As a young woman, her greatest desire was to be a member of the Holy Cross, where she would work in service to the church as both a teacher and a nurse. Both herself and her sister Dorothy both joined the Holy Cross Convent. They both were fortunate to be first assigned together as schoolteachers. After their time teaching, Cathy and sister Dorothy were both re-designated to be trained as nurses, where Cathy then received her medical training and then went on to care for the sick at St. Francis Cabrini hospital. After approximately 18 years in the service of the church, Cathy then decided to leave Holy Cross and soon thereafter, through an introduction by a family friend, met John F. Shea, a widower with 4 children, the oldest, John, then, Carolyn, Andrew and David. They were married in Bothell, Washington in July of 1965 and then welcomed three more children, Mary, Joseph and Emily. In 1973 John retired and took the family to live in Cape Cod, Massachusetts for several years. In her early married life she spent her time at home caring for her children and was always closely connected to the church by doing various types of volunteering. In December of 1989, John passed away due to heart disease, and Cathy then relocated back to her home state of Nebraska, this time in Omaha, to be near family. Eventually, Cathy then settled in Oceanside California after other family members had relocated there where she immediately went to work once again for the church as a Legion of Mary member in addition to several other positions allowing her to connect with the church and community. She was a renowned cook, and during the holidays she made platters of Christmas treats that she delivered to family and friends. Anyone who knew Cathy knew her kind spirit and generous heart. Above all, Cathy loved her family, her friends and her Church. She loved working in soup kitchens at Brother Benno’s, visiting shut-ins and caring for those less fortunate. She blessed many lives with her kind and thoughtful acts. She was always a faithful leader and mentor to all those, both young and old who were interested in learning more about the church and loved nothing more than being able to share her love of Jesus. She was a faithful member of many parishes, most recently St Margaret’s in Oceanside, where she enjoyed being able to work as one of the volunteer staff, maintaining facilities, and volunteering regularly. Cathy was preceded in death by her parents, Joseph and Madgel Schatz, and her sisters, Mary Skinner, Dorothy Schatz and Joann Dickman. She is survived by her three children, Mary Shea-Fleury, Joseph Shea and Emily Boyd, numerous grandchildren, as well as many nieces and nephews. She left behind a legacy of thoughtfulness and kindness that can inspire us all. She will be greatly missed by many. A wake will be held at the Eternal Hills Mortuary In Oceanside CA on Friday, 1 March from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.. There will be a funeral mass the following day at Saint Margaret's Catholic Church in Oceanside CA on Saturday, March 2nd 20, from 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.. A viewing will be held prior to the mass at 10:00 and a reception will be held in the church hall immediately following service.