Lois McIntosh O'Shea

Lois McIntosh O’Shea, 84, of Chamblee, died Thursday, Sept. 16. Mrs. O’Shea was the widow of Arthur K. O’Shea Sr., beloved mother to eight children and a former staff member of the Georgia State University Library. Lois Helen McIntosh was born July 6, 1926, in Philadelphia, to James J. and Helen McIntosh. She moved with her family to Atlanta in the 1930s. She was a graduate of Sacred Heart School in downtown Atlanta, and she attended the College of St. Rose in Albany, NY. She married Arthur O’Shea in 1949. Her family recalls Mrs. O’Shea’s quiet strength and sense of humor, along with her lifelong interest in history, libraries, reading and learning. Though she left college during World War II to take a civilian job in support of the war effort, and her schooling was further delayed as she raised a family, Mrs. O’Shea returned to college in the 1970s, earning a history degree from Georgia State University. She worked at Chamblee Library before joining the library staff at Georgia State, where she was in the interlibrary loan department. She was an active member of Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic Church for more than 50 years and a member of the Sexton Woods Garden Club. Mrs. O’Shea continued to live independently for the past several years with the help of family and her caregiver, Chantel Miller. In addition to her husband, she was predeceased by a son, Arthur Kevin O’Shea Jr., who was called Kevin; and a brother, Gregory P. McIntosh. Survivors include three daughters, Theresa O’Shea, Helen O’Shea Tucker (Bill) and Mary O’Shea; four sons, John J. O’Shea, Michael J. O’Shea, Brian O’Shea (Bev) and Timothy J. O’Shea (Ellen); a brother, Robert J. McIntosh (Coralie); and four grandchildren, Catherine Ann Tucker, Maggie O'Shea, Nick O'Shea and Colin Arthur Fuller O'Shea. Visitation will be 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 24 at H.M. Patterson & Son Oglethorpe Hill Chapel, with a Rosary at 7 p.m. Funeral will be 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 25 at Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic Church, with burial at Arlington Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Ignatius House Jesuit Retreat Center. Arrangements under the direction of H.M. Patterson & Son Oglethorpe Hill, Atlanta, GA.