Josephine T. "Jo" Sheehan, 79
Former "Miss Lowell"
Proprietor of the former Other Half Gift Shoppe and Boutique of Tewksbury
TEWKSBURY: Josephine T. "Jo" (Sullivan) Sheehan, age 79, a member of a well known Tewksbury family, and devout communicant of St. William's Parish, passed away on Monday, April 18, 2011, at the Brigham & Women's Hospital in Boston, following a brief illness.
She was the beloved wife of Tewksbury Board of Health member and former owner of Sheehan's Tewksbury Pharmacy, Edward J. Sheehan, Jr. , with whom she celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary on August 27, 2010.
Jo was born in Lowell on November 15, 1931, the daughter of the late John J. Sullivan and the late Mary (Curran) Sullivan.
She was raised in Lowell and attended and later graduated from the former St. Patrick's Parochial Grammar and High School. Following graduation, she attended Academie Moderne Modeling School in Boston.
In her early years, Jo started her retail career at Brockleman's Market. She loved riding horses and competed in many horse shows. Jo was also employed as a model and fashion show coordinator by the former Lemkins Department Store. During that time, she competed in and won the honor of being selected "Miss Lowell". She was also a talented singer, sang with Tony Dorsey's Band, and was a member of an opera company.
Following her marriage in 1955, she moved to Tewksbury and dedicated her life to raising and caring for her family.
In later years, she founded the "Other Half Gift Shoppe and Boutique" of Tewksbury, which she operated until her retirement.
Jo enjoyed numerous activities including playing tennis at the former Northmeadow Tennis Club, attending social gatherings at the former T.V.A. Pool in Tewksbury, volunteering at her children's schools, and spending time with her family at the beaches of N. Hampton and Seabrook, NH, Salisbury, MA and Florida.
She was a member of many catholic women's organizations including the Seton Guild and the Blessed Mary Sodality of St. William's Church.
Jo will lovingly be remembered for her general love of cooking especially her jam and meatballs, her sense of style, Irish humor, her generosity, love of reading, and cheering on the Red Sox, and will always affectionately be known as "Madre" by her children's many friends.
In addition to her beloved husband, Jo is survived by her children, Brian J. Sheehan and his wife Carol, Nora C. Biewener and her husband James of Tewksbury, Scott E. Sheehan and his wife Pamela of West Newbury, Christine C. Smith and her husband Christopher of Tewksbury and Joane E. Golden and her husband, State Representative Thomas Golden of Lowell; nine grandchildren, Collin Sheehan, Kenny Pickard, Nicholas and Olivia Sheehan, Shannon, Kasey and Julia Smith, and Abigail and Lillian Golden; one sister, Helen Stone of Hudson, NH; also many nieces and nephews.
Jo was the sister of the late Tina Giguere and Mary Wholey.
Calling hours Monday, April 25th, from 4-8 p.m., at the Farmer & Dee Funeral Home, 16 Lee St., Tewksbury. Her funeral will be held Tuesday, April 26th at 9 a.m., from the funeral home, followed by her Funeral Mass at 10 a.m., at St. Williams Church, 1351 Main St., Rte. 38, Tewksbury. Interment at Tewksbury Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to St. Jude Childrens Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.