Fern Shea

Memorial services for Fern Shea, age 90, of Albert Lea, will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, October 30, 2017 at Bayview/Freeborn Funeral Home.  Father Kurt Farrell will officiate, assisted by Todd Walsh Chaplain Thorne-Crest Senior Living Community. A private interment will take place at a later date.  Friends may greet the family one hour prior to the service at the funeral home.

Fern died Wednesday, October 25, 2017 at Thorne Crest Senior Living Community.

Fern Shea was born August 5, 1927 in Albert Lea, the daughter of Cyrus and Gladys (Horning) Ott. She grew up in Albert Lea, graduating from Albert Lea High School in 1945.  On September 7, 1947, Fern was united in marriage to Joseph Shea at St. Theodore Catholic Church in Albert Lea. Fern was a member of St. Theodore Catholic Church.  She enjoyed cooking, gardening, canning, sewing, counted cross-stitch, and reading.

Fern is survived by her children, Charleen Steffen, Gregory (Charlotte) Shea, and JoLane Svendsen (significant other, Jerry Monson); adopted daughter, Pat (Bill) Town; grandchildren, James (Tracy) Steffen, Sarah (James) McFarland, Leah (Melvin) Mullins, John Shea, Steven (Jolene) Svendsen; great-grandchildren, Lily and Sam Steffen, Jaeden and Connor McFarland, Joshua and Shea Svendsen, and Cyrus Mullins; sister, Irene Ott; and special niece, Kathy Mandt.

Fern was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Joseph; son-in-law Melvin Steffen.

We want to thank the entire staff at Thorne Crest for the loving care they gave our mom and to the hospice staff for the comfort they provided.