Lilli Shea, of Marinette, passed away Sunday, Feb. 2 at Aurora BayCare Medical Center in Green Bay.
Lilli was born on April 16, 1934 to John and Helen (Slowik) Klus. She attended Goodman-Armstrong School, graduating in 1952, went on to Wesley Memorial, graduating as a registered nurse in 1955, and received a Bachelor ’s Degree from Western Michigan. She practiced nursing in Wisconsin, Oregon, Washington, Hawaii, Washington, D.C., and Michigan.
Lilli loved people and nature. Upon retiring from nursing in 1998, Lilli and her husband Jim opened a bed and breakfast, which they built on their property in Marinette and named “Sheady Pines.” There, she flourished in the nature that surrounded her and in the many guests that frequented the beautiful establishment.
In life, Lilli loved music and dancing like no one was watching with two of her favorite songs being “Delta Dawn” and “Desperado.” She also really enjoyed all aspects of nature, including hunting and bagging an 11-point buck. She also loved traveling, whether it was by bus for a 30-day excursion or cross-country by train, and especially by car to visit family and friends. She was very competitive, loved playing games, and was part of many bridge groups throughout her life. She also loved baking, even using apples from her own trees to make pie and homemade applesauce.
Lilli loved life and cherished each day. She was often known for saying, “Everything is as it should be,” and as many have said, “In the end, it’s not about the years in your life, but the life in your years.”
Lilli is preceded in death by her son, John Shea, her grandson, Alex Shea, and her brother, John Klus.
Lilli is survived by her husband of 59 years, James Shea, her son, James Shea Jr. and wife Tia Shea, her daughter, Mary Ellen Musto and husband Henry Musto; seven grandchildren, James Shea III, Elizabeth Shea, Alissa and Thomas Talbot, Hannah Sarradet, Hailey Sarradet, Lilli Musto, and Samuel Musto; and sisters Mary and husband Jim Nelson, Kathy and husband Paul Milan, and sister-in-law Geri Klus.
She will be missed by many for she was loved by many. A visitation was observed on Friday, Feb. 7 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Hansen-Onion-Martell Funeral Home in Marinette.
Hansen-Onion-Martell Funeral Home in Marinette handled all visitation arrangements. In lieu of flowers, the family has encouraged donations be sent to the Alzheimer’s Association in her memory.