Anne M. Shea

Anne (LeBonte) Shea passed away peacefully on August 24, 2018 at the age of 84 years. Joseph, her devoted husband of 61 years, was with her.

Anne Shea was a formidable woman who grew up in humble surroundings near Boston and went onto successful teaching and business careers. Most importantly she was an incredible Mother and Grand and Great-Grandmother. She was in the first class of women to attend Boston College in 1952. She met her future husband Joseph Shea at BC. While stationed in Germany they married on January 29th, 1957. Over the next 7 years Anne gave birth to Brian, Kevin, Brendan and Kerry. To date their children have extended their families with ten grand kids and three great-grandchildren.

While rearing her children, Anne began teaching at a special needs elementary school in CA and then an inner-city school in Newark NJ. Years later, she established a successful real estate career in Laguna Beach where they resided for 20 years. In retirement they moved to Sonoma in 1997. She and Joseph were able to travel extensively through Europe, Australia and North America. Throughout her life Anne was active in national and local politics where she was a strong advocate for responsible growth and other social causes.

Anne was predeceased by her brothers Edward and Harold LeBonte.  In addition to her husband Joseph “Papa Joe”, “Grammy Anne” leaves behind her children: Brian and his wife Julie, and their children Molly Salimi and her husband Barbod and their two children Dariush and Jami of Boston MA, and Megan and her daughter Madison of Palm Desert CA; Kevin and his wife Maura and their three children Caitlin, Patrick and Caroline of Hopkinton MA; Brendan and his wife Cheryl and their three children Sidney, Claire, and Morgan of Westford MA; and Kerry (Shea) Loder and her husband Noel Loder and their two sons Jack and Sean of Mill Valley CA.

Funeral services are being handled by Duggan’s Mission Chapel of Sonoma.  A memorial service and celebration of her life will be held, Friday, September 14, 2018 at 11:00 AM. at St. Leo’s Catholic Church in Sonoma.  Anne requested in lieu of flowers memorial contributions be made to Hanna Boys Center or St. Vincent de Paul Society.

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