Tribute Wall
Sunday
31
March
Visitation at Funeral Home
4:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Sunday, March 31, 2019
Fredrick J. Chapey & Sons Funeral Home, Inc.
1225 Montauk Hwy
West Islip, New York, United States
Monday
1
April
Funeral Mass
9:30 am
Monday, April 1, 2019
St. Joseph's R.C. Church
39 North Carll Avenue
Babylon, New York, United States
Final Resting Place
St. Joseph's Cemetery
Old Farmingdale Road
Babylon, New York, United States
In Lieu of Flowers
St. Joseph's Parish Outreach
39 North Carll Avenue
Babylon, NY 11702
Obituary
Long time Babylon Village resident, Helen S. O’Shea died peacefully at Allied Hospice in Pennsylvania on Sunday, March 24, 2019. Born on the Szuster farm in Yapank, NY in 1925, Helen was the seventh of 10 children, and the first in her family to attend college. During WWII she earned her RN at Mount Sinai School of Nursing, graduating first in her class. Given the critical shortage of nurses she went to work in the Operating Rooms of Southside Hospital in Bay Shore, turning down a scholarship to Columbia University.
While there she met and fell in love with her husband John V.(Vinnie) O’Shea, Jr. suspending her nursing career and beginning a marriage of 62 years. Together, they raised five children, Vincent, James, Michael, Kevin, and Patricia (Joe Shivock). In 1954 they built a small cottage on Oak Island knowing the family would not be able to take vacations due to her husband’s six day a week schedule operating O’Shea Brothers Meats and Poultry in Babylon Village.
For more than 60 summers, the family enjoyed Oak Island from June until September, arriving the day school got out and returning to Babylon on Labor Day. Helen enjoyed teaching her children the necessity of chores, the importance of swimming, the fun of sailing, and the magic of fishing. Later in life, she did it all over again with her grandchildren. Helen was actively involved in the Oak Island community. For years she volunteered as the island’s informal emergency medical provider, freely tending to wounds and providing medical advice. She served on the Board of Directors of the Great South Bay Isles Association, and took great pride in being elected its first women President.
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As her family grew older, with some moving on to college, Helen decided to go back to nursing, a job that she truly loved. That decision resulted in a 25 year career in the Operating Rooms of Good Samaritan Hospital in West Islip. Countless residents of Babylon, friends and strangers, have recalled that their last recollection of going into surgery, was Helen O’Shea telling them not to worry, that they were in good hands, and that she would take care of them.
Through out her life she reflected the basic principles of hard work and the life skills she learned while growing up on a large working farm. She loved to cook and was good at it, much to the benefit of her family, extended family and many friends who enjoyed the meals that came out of her kitchen. She loved to grow things as well, with an unfailing ability to grow vegetable and flower plants in even the smallest of spaces.
Helen was pre-deceased by her husband Vinnie in 2011. In addition to her five children, she is survived by six grandchildren, Shaun, Meghan (Spring), Peter Shivock, Christopher Shivock, Sarah Shivock, and Paula Shivock, four great grandchildren, and her sister Fanny Raymond of Yapank. The family will receive guests from 4 PM to 8 PM on Sunday. March 31, at Fredick J. Chapey and Sons Funeral Home, 1225 Montauk Highway, West Islip, NY. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Monday April 1, 9:30 AM at The Church of St. Joseph, 39 North Carll Ave. Babylon, NY, 11702. Internment immediately following at St. Joseph’s Cemetery in Babylon. The O’Shea’s were life long parishioners of St. Joseph’s. The family has identified St. Joseph’s Community Services for those wishing to make a donation in Helen’s memory.
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Lee and Barb Sheeley lit a candle
Monday, April 1, 2019
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Lee and Barb Sheeley posted a condolence
Monday, April 1, 2019
We were so sorry to hear of your mother/grandmothers passing. I know she was a cherished Great Grandma to our wonderful grandchildren ( Lindsay and Aaron) O'Shea. Please accept our sincere condolences . May you find peace, joy and comfort in your memories of this wonderful woman and her long, meaningful life here on Earth and forever in eternity with God . In Sympathy, Lee and Barb Sheeley
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Joyce L Horyczun lit a candle
Saturday, March 30, 2019
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Kammy McLoughlin posted a condolence
Saturday, March 30, 2019
Dear Aunt Helen,
I think you were the strongest women I have ever know. Strong in your beliefs of how you educated and raised all of your children to be productive members of society, your faith, your dedication as a nurse, and your physical strength. I remember summer at Oak Island, clam chowder, deviled clams, swimming, sailing, fishing, running past the 'Ghost House' and flushing the toilets with water from the lead. And the Sunday morning masses followed by liver. My siblings and I did not eat liver, we balled it up in our hands and then through it in the lead and watched the shiners eat it. I remember winters ice skating and then going back to your house where you made us hot chocolate with evaporated milk (I learned later it was evaporated) the best hot chocolate ever and I didn't know why. Your Christmas wreaths were always beautiful and the crusthiki? that never lastest a day in our house. From a farm to the water, you could do it all. You will be missed but never forgotten, Love, Kammy
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Lorraine Walter uploaded photo(s)
Saturday, March 30, 2019
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The Ortho team. Mrs. Helen O'Shea and Lorraine Walter
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Lorraine Walter uploaded photo(s)
Saturday, March 30, 2019
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Joyce, Lorraine and Helen
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Lorraine Walter uploaded photo(s)
Saturday, March 30, 2019
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Our last lunch with Mrs. Conroy and Miss Grosser.
April 2013
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Lorraine Walter posted a condolence
Saturday, March 30, 2019
My dearest Helen,
I will never forget the hardworking and wonderful years we spent together in the OR. So many mornings we would meet at 5am to get the day started with total joints. We used Room 8 because at the time it was the biggest room in the 8 OR's Good Sam had. Now there are 18 rooms. Some of the fondest memories were how well we worked together yet separately, never having to say a word to each other to get everything prepared for a 7:30am incision time. We never got in each other's way or came back to the room with the same things. Unfortunately almost all of the surgeons we worked alongside with, laughed with, cried with and respected are long gone either through death or retirement. It was gratifying for both of us to see and hear how much we meant to them and how well they respected our dedication to the service, not stopping until the day was successful.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart for being an excellent role model and teacher to me in the OR, for a shoulder to cry on when tragedy struck my family and someone who was always there with the answers to why and how we did what we did.
I saw you awhile back for lunch but I have since retired and moved to North Carolina. I am sorry I can't be there for your funeral mass but I promise when I come up in July I will be sure to adorn your grave with flowers. There will never be another Helen in my life that could come close to what you have given me through your motherly compassion and friendship. You truly cared for me and I felt it. Go in peace with the angels
and meet Vinnie in heaven.
o
The family of Helen S. O'Shea uploaded a photo
Friday, March 29, 2019
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