Sister Adele Shea, SSND
April 12, 1933 – October 8, 2025
On Easter Sunday, April 12th,1933 Esther joined the family of Cornelius Shea and Adelaide Thompson, who had moved from Boston to Brooklyn. Her sister Marie preceded Esther, and little Joseph soon joined this typical Brooklyn Irish household. Less than two weeks later Esther was baptized at St. Michael Church. St. Michael’s was the school that she attended and where Esther was prepared for First Communion and Confirmation by the Sisters of St. Joseph. During those years, the desire to belong to God more intimately in religious life began to grow. Visits with her aunts, Sister Douleur, SSND and Sister Magdalene drew her to the School Sisters of Notre Dame (SSND). In fact, at age five when visiting S. Douleur at St. Joseph Convent in NYC, little Esther declared, “I am going to be a School Sister of Notre Dame.”
After graduation in February,1947, Esther attended St. Saviour High for a year and a half and then transferred to Bay Ridge High from which she graduated. Thoughts of a career in pediatrics lingered for a while. Esther worked at Hanover Bank as a bookkeeper and attended night classes at Hunter College.
“Leaving all to the wisdom of God, I realized more fully my desire to serve Him in religious life.” On August 28, 1952, she received the candidate’s bonnet St. Anselm Parish where the SSNDs taught. One year in the candidature was as a student in the Notre Dame Training School and the other as first grade teacher in Sacred Heart School, Baltimore.
Esther was received into the novitiate on July 30,1954 and was given the name Mary Adele, and she professed first vows on July 30,1955. Her many teaching assignments included St. Anselm in Brooklyn, New York; St. Mary in East Islip, New York; St. Anthony in Passaic, New Jersey where she served as principal; St. Lawrence in Sayville, New Yor; Immaculate Conception in Secaucus, New Jersey; St. Matthias in Brooklyn, New York; and St. John in Leonia, New Jersey. Adele was also pastoral minister for three years at St. Maria Goretti Parish in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. Adele graciously shared her artistic ability and that of seamstress with her sisters. Her creative touch helped many a new teacher prepare her classroom for the opening day of school. During those years she achieved a Bachelor of Science in English at Seton Hall University and a Master of Arts in Theology at Providence College.
When Adele moved to Villa Notre Dame in Wilton, Connecticut, she served as sacristan. For twenty-five years she meticulously prepared the Lord’s table for the Eucharistic Celebration and other prayerful events. Throughout her life, Adele cherished her family and the friendships she formed and faithfully kept in touch with them. Her sisters in community witnessed her creativity, kindness, thoughtful ways, quick wit, and sense of humor.
In an article written at the time of her 60th Jubilee, Adele wrote, “Early on I fell in love with Jesus Christ. He was so important in my life. My love has grown, and my trust in God’s love has been strengthened.” This became so evident in the last months of Adele’s life. On October 8th, she slipped peacefully into the embrace of the God she so loved.
Her sisters from 3030 Park Avenue (formerly Watermark), and members of Adele’s family Rob, Cheryl, Brenda and Kelley, gathered at St. Andrew Church in Bridgeport, Connecticut for the wake and Mass of Resurrection on October 20, 2025. S. Theresa Lamy led the wake service at which S. Eileen Shea proclaimed from Paul’s epistles and nephew Rob spoke lovingly of visits to his aunt who always had a surprise for him and his sister Coleen. Father Curfit celebrated the Mass, grandniece Cheryl read from Isaiah. S. Shawn Kavanagh offered an excerpt from You Are Sent. The Prayer of the Faithful was led by S. Maureen Ulatowski. Burial was at St. Mary, Bethel, Connecticut.
By Sister Cathy Feeney, SSND
