Helen Shea

‘The Greatest Celebration is that of a Life well lived’

It is with heavy hearts and great sadness that we share that our beloved mother, Helen Muriel Shea (Thackeray) passed away peacefully on May 16th, 2026 at PRHC at the age of 94.

Helen was predeceased by her parents Cecil and Muriel Thackeray and by her husband Stuart Shea.   Helen had 9 siblings, survived by sister Lola and predeceased by Jean, Evelyn, Marj, Phyllis, Roy, Lyle, Doug and Garnet.   Loving mother of Sheldon (Nancy), Gary (Christine), Allan (Myra), Patricia (predeceased Michael), Catherine (Kevin), Terry (Sylvia) and Carolyn. Tippy Shea (predeceased and well-loved family beagle).

Helen leaves behind 19 grandchildren, Katie (Paul), Mark (Jen), Michael (Stephanie), Laura (Mike), Jamie (Jeff), Kelly, Darcy (Kyle), Melissa, Marta (Ewen), Lara (Ken), Amanda (Nicola), Michael (Tonya), Mathew, Sarah (Jamie), Noah (Anne), Chad (Nikki), Kaitlin (Sean), Ellie and Clayton (Carla), as well as 32 beloved great grandchildren.

Helen was born in Tisdale Saskatchewan on January 2nd, 1932 during the great depression and Dustbowl.  She then moved to Gore’s Landing Ontario on Rice Lake when she was 7 years old and lived in the ‘White House’ with her family.   Helen and her family later moved to Peterborough where she attended PCVS.  Helen and Stu married on December 14th, 1951.  They built their first house on O’Connell Avenue and when the family outgrew it, they built a house on O’Carroll Avenue where Helen lived for 67 years.   The house was a drop-in for many neighbourhood kids and schoolmates, where she welcomed all with open arms.  The hallway was full of coats, running shoes, books and gym bags, which was always a trip hazard.  After all the kids had grown and moved out of the family home, they loved to come home for a visit or family celebrations.  Helen was known as the matriarch of O’Carroll Avenue.

Helen’s first job was at the Irwin Inn on Stoney Lake.  Later she worked at Victoria & Grey Trust and then, as a bookkeeper at the family businesses, including the King George Hotel.   In 1952, Helen started to raise her family - the children coming early and often.

Mom loved to bowl and she was proud to have had a perfect score playing for the Lucky Strike team.  She also was an avid golfer at the Peterborough Golf and Country Club for many years.  She loved to play cards, especially euchre (very competitively).   Helen loved playing piano and she entertained family, friends and many seniors at retirement homes.  Mom also enjoyed spending time with family and friends at the cottages on Rice Lake and Stoney Lake and with family and especially the grandkids and great grandkids at Dickey Lake, where many fun times and great memories were made.  Mom had a love for birds and animals and it gave her great joy to see the birds at her feeder. 

Mom left behind a legacy of strength, compassion and devotion and was the pillar of our family.   She faced life with grace, guided always by her deep faith.   Her unwavering faith carried her through life’s joy and challenges.   Mom offered thoughtful advice with gentle patience, always putting others before herself.  Her wisdom, patient heart, beautiful blue eyes and her radiant smile will be forever remembered.

Mom moved to Canterbury Gardens in December 2025, and though only there for a short time, she will be missed by staff and residents.  We are so grateful for the loving care mom received from the nurses, staff and Doctors at PRHC and also at Canterbury Gardens.  Many thanks to mom’s caring neighbours, Steve, Sherry, Frank, Bob, Sue, Steve, Alicia and Harmon who watched out for mom every day.

A private family service will be held on the morning of Tuesday June 9th 2026.  All are welcome to attend a Celebration of Life for Helen from 1:00-5:00 pm on June 9th at Highland Park Funeral Centre, 2510 Bensfort Rd., Peterborough Ontario.   A short devotion will be held at 1:30 p.m.

In memory of Helen and in lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the PRHC Foundation, The Peterborough Sports Hall of Fame, The Peterborough Humane Society, or, a charity of your choice.

                              ‘Mom was pure light, pure love and now her light shines beyond the stars’