Obituaries

Worcester couple married 68 years passes away a week apart

  • Posted by Obituaries November 6, 2024 - Filed in News - #Worcester  #Worcester Public Schools  #Athy Memorial Home  #Thomas Sheahan  #Eileen Sheahan  - 19,863 views

    Beloved educator and nurse, united in life and death, leave legacy


    Athy Memorial Home (left, right)  

    WORCESTER — Lifelong Worcester residents who were married for 68 years recently passed away days apart.

    Thomas A. Sheahan, a lifelong educator and musician, and his wife, Eileen M. (Callahan) Sheahan, a devoted labor and delivery nurse, passed away within a week of each other in October, united in life and in death.

    Eileen died on October 24th, surrounded by her husband and family. Thomas followed on October 31st, also in the embrace of loved ones. Both were 90 years old.

    Born and raised in Worcester, Thomas was the son of Thomas A. and Mary H. (Tynan) Sheahan. He graduated from St. John’s High School and later earned bachelor's and master's degrees in education from Worcester State University. Over a 40-year teaching career, he imparted his love for mathematics, science, and geography to students in Worcester Public Schools. Retiring in 1996, Tom was remembered not only as an educator but as a passionate musician. He played piano, tenor guitar, banjo, and accordion, and was the lead singer for Worcester's Ragtime Rowdies, a beloved Dixieland band.

    Eileen was born to John C. and Mary E. (Flynn) Callahan. A North High School graduate, she earned her nursing degree at the Hahnemann Hospital School of Nursing and later a bachelor's in nursing from Fitchburg State University. For 4 decades, she served in Worcester hospitals, primarily as a labor and delivery nurse, helping welcome countless new lives into the world. Known for her gentle touch and compassionate heart, Eileen left an indelible mark on the community.

    Together, Tom and Eileen were active members of Our Lady of the Rosary Church and built their family on Prudential Road, where they raised their children. They are survived by E. Susan Sheahan (and her spouse, Jean Ferrara) of Green Cove Springs, Fla.; Thomas “TJ” Sheahan of Redding, Conn.; and Kristopher “KC” Sheahan of Scottsdale, Ariz. They were also proud grandparents to 4 grandchildren, Nathan Boyan (his wife Melissa and their son Andy, Tom and Eileen's great-grandson), Rory Boyan, Liam Sheahan, and Aidan Sheahan. Their beloved daughter, Maureen B. Sheahan, predeceased them in 2013.

    In addition to their immediate family, Tom and Eileen are survived by numerous nieces and nephews, all of whom they cherished. Eileen’s sister, Marie J. Quist, predeceased her in 2000.

    Calling hours will be held for the couple on Thursday, November 7th, from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Athy Memorial Home, 111 Lancaster St., Worcester. A funeral Mass will be celebrated on Friday, November 8th, at 11 a.m. at Our Lady of the Rosary Church, 25 Fales St., followed by burial in St. John’s Cemetery.

    The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, the Alzheimer’s Association, or Our Lady of the Rosary Church in honor of Tom and Eileen’s enduring legacy of compassion and service.

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