John William Shea, age 86, of Somerville (formerly East Boston), passed away peacefully on October 13, 2026, surrounded by his loving family. Throughout a long, courageous battle with vascular dementia, John was lovingly cared for at home by his devoted wife until his final days.
John is survived by his beloved wife, Margaret "Peggy" Wilkins-Shea. John and Peggy shared over 30 years of marriage filled with love, laughter, and companionship. He leaves behind his step-daughter, Denise "Dee" Lavey, her husband, Rich, and their three children, Danielle, Richie, and Bobby Lavey, who loved him dearly as their grandfather. He will be sorely missed by his dear sister-in-law, Theresa Paolillo.
John also leaves behind his daughter, Lois Shea Rich and her partner, John V. Bradley; his son, James L. Shea and his wife, Kets; and his son, John Shea and his wife, Dorina, all of whom he loved deeply and shared many cherished milestones with throughout his life. He is survived by his grandchildren, Taylor, Renee, Nathan, Kierahn, Elijah, Alexander, Ariana, Alissa, and Nicholas, who brought him great pride; and his great-grandchildren, Myles, Liam, and John, who will grow up knowing his love through the stories shared by family.
John was preceded in death by his parents, Ambrose and Mary Shea; his sister; nine brothers; and countless other family members and friends.
John was a man who truly understood the value of life’s simple pleasures. He was happiest when surrounded by family, whether he was hanging out by the pool, teaching the kids how to play chess, or relaxing at the lake in New Hampshire. A dedicated employee, John worked for Delta Airlines for 27 years and later enjoyed golfing, meeting his retired Delta Crew for breakfast, and settling in to watch Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune.
For many years, John was a fixture at the local hockey rink, enthusiastically cheering at his grandsons' games while hanging out with family and friends. He also attended countless basketball, football, lacrosse, baseball, and soccer games, as well as many other events and celebrations that were special to his grandchildren. He was his family’s biggest fan.
Even as his illness progressed and kept him closer to home, John’s warm spirit and bright blue eyes never faded. Peggy provided exceptional, unwavering care, remaining the anchor he never failed to recognize. Through it all, John could always be found sitting on the front porch with a quick smile, ready to strike up a friendly conversation with neighbors, delivery drivers, and the mail carrier. His warm presence and boundless love will remain forever in the hearts of everyone who knew him.
A celebration of John’s life will be held at the Dello Russo Funeral Home, 306 Main Street, Medford, MA. Calling hours will be from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM on Thursday, October 22, 2026 with a prayer service at 7:30 PM.